Thomas Friedman on the ‘Overconnected Tourist’
Travel Blog • Michael Yessis • 08.17.09 | 9:40 AM ET
He went to remote Botswana—the “Land of No Service”—and sent forth a column that touches on the “blessings and curses” of being connected:
For the normally overconnected tourist, the first thing you notice in the Land of No Service is how quickly your hearing, smell and eyesight improve in an act of instant Darwinian evolution. It is amazing how well you can hear when you don’t have an iPod in your ears or how far you can see when you’re not squinting at a computer screen. In the wild, the difference between hearing and seeing with acuity is the difference between survival and extinction for the animals and the difference between a rewarding experience and a missed opportunity for photographers and guides.
He sounds downright Pottsian.
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Michael Yessis is the cofounder and coeditor-in-chief of World Hum.
Ben Keene 08.17.09 | 1:39 PM ET
A long weekend of hiking and camping on the Appalachian Trail has helped me to see the wisdom in Mr. Friedman’s words. Afternoons untethered from the internet are wonderful things. And speaking of advice from The Times, while I do like the fact that Nick Kristof pointed out how inexpensive and rewarding a hike can be in his August 8th column, I’d caution newbie outdoorsmen and women to consult a few other sources before heading into the woods. Unlike sneakers, a good pair of hiking boots will support your ankles, keep your feet drier, save your toes from stubbing, and provide better traction.
Jean - OurExplorer Tour Guide 08.21.09 | 2:38 AM ET
“the difference between a rewarding experience and a missed opportunity for photographers and guides”. Modern convenience and real wild exprience are not always together. But no matter what, culture or nature, enjoy and preserve what one sees.