WikiTravel

by Erik Olsen on

Most folks have probably spent some time messing around on Wikipedia. I know I have. In fact, the other night I literally spent four hours just browsing through all the pages and links dedicated to Pink Floyd (and yes, I’m going to read the new book out about them…when I can get the reading time).

But if you are a serious traveler and you have not spent some time playing around on WikiTravel, you’re missing out. The guides here are nicely filled out (for certain areas, that is), by people who know these places well or who have been there. It is like have a  Lonely Planet or Rough Guides online and for free.

And sometimes the info is even better than you get from a Rough Guides or Lonely Planet because it’s more nicely fleshed out and there are links to the various sites mentioned. I am adding WikiTravel to my bookmarks, BIG time.

Shamanizing

by Erik Olsen on


Admit it, you’ve always harbored a secret desire to getaway to the Amazonian rain forest, where you will hack your way into the deep, dark jungle to find a tribe that welcomes you, that offers you a potent drink containing a powerful hallucinogen, and after you try it, the heavens open up and all of life’s mysteries reveal themselves to you. Unfortunately, you end up with one heck of a hangover. Oh, and you forget most of what you learned. Sorry about that. After effects, you know. But you did take away one morsel of wisdom: those big green leaves in the jungle: they make really cool hats.

Alas, you and I are not likely to fraternize with shamans any time soon, but the folks over at National Geographic did just that recently, and they brought along a video crew. Yes, two Americans, including one of my current writing idols Kira Salak, went to the Peruvian rain forest to try ayahuasca, a kind of jungly LSD/Mescaline drug that the locals use for ceremonies… and to play jokes on their bosses (Memo? I wasn’t supposed to have that memo done today? What, are you on ayahuasca?). 

But seriously, this is wonderful story-telling and a cool story. I spent a wee bit of time in the Amazon years ago and very much dreamed of taking the time to plunge into the forest to do exactly this. Of course, I didn’t. Couldn’t stand the mosquitoes.