I love travelling almost anywhere, but there are few things about travelling in developing countries that really get me excited. It’s kind of a hard thing to nail down – one of those “if you have to ask, you’d never understand” type of things. But I hate assholes who say stuff like that, so I figured I would try to articulate a few of the reasons I prefer travelling in the third world. Here are a few that I came up with.
The Assault on the Senses – Nobody will ever forget the feeling of the first time they landed in a third world city. That feeling of dread where you think, “Oh shit, what have I done? Why couldn’t I just go to London like my parents suggested?” The traffic pushing past you, the horns deafening you, the touts hassling you, the taxis swerving towards you, the pollution making you choke, the beggars grabbing you, the street vendors yelling at you – they all know you’ve just arrived and they give you no quarter. And it’s awesome!
The Food – I know that most countries have great food, but as a foodie, I just find the range of experiences in the third world far more interesting. That’s not to say the food is the best or better than other places (I love all food), but it’s the anticipation of eating a fried grasshopper versus the anticipation of eating a steak. Sure, the steak is awesome, but it doesn’t make me nervous and delightedly surprised like the grasshopper (or terrified like a tarantula).
The People – It is very easy to make friends in the third world and I am not just talking about touts or folks who want your money. People just seem a little more open and impressed that you have made the effort to get to know their country. Walk through the streets of Paris, you will get shoved out of the way. Walk through the country roads of the Bekaah Valley and every second family will invite you in for tea. I know that is a generalisation, but it is my experience.
The Thinking – Look, don’t get me wrong – I love western Europe. Honestly I do. But when you’ve spent a little time in the Middle East or Asia or Africa, you come to realise that Paris or Berlin or Rome are kind of like Vancouver, Atlanta or Sydney Рjust with better architecture. The people more or less think in the same way and solve problems in the same way. That cannot be said of the people in most developing countries. It’s a different social system and getting to know it is exciting.
The Cost – Hell, if you want to you can survive on about $3 a day. Even at 5 star level, you can travel in the third world for $100 per day. Enough said.
The Adventure – Something about seeing Mt Ararat for the first time or getting stuck in a hash den in India beats the snot out of having a Cafe Latte on the Champs Elyse – it just does!
The Stories – Look, don’t get me wrong – I love Cathedrals as much as the next guy, but in my experience telling my friends about the 18th cathedral I saw in Italy doesn’t really keep them as enthralled as the story about the time I enjoyed the hospitality of a gun-runner in southeast Asia. Stuff like that just seems to happen more often when your traipsing around the third world. And it makes for better tales.
Travelling in the third world is awesome. It’s adventuresome and it often throws things at you that are completely unexpected. I love travelling in Europe, I love travelling in New Zealand or Japan. But nothing quite gives me the thrill of setting off for a developing country.
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What a great post! And I love the pictures you chose to include. Looking forward to reading more of your adventures!
Great post! I love the way you featured third world countries’ uniqueness!