Reminder: World Hum’s Restless Legs Reading in NYC Tonight

Louvre, Pompidou Expanding in France and Overseas

Would-Be ‘Hijacker’ Subdued on Turkish Flight

Rabbit, Run … Away

Love Herring in Sweden

From artery-clogging casseroles to a fermented concoction that smells alarmingly like vinegary flatulence, Lola Akinmade digs in to a smörgåsbord of herring and explains how to best appreciate Scandinavia’s favorite fish. 

The Water Is Wide

Bronwen Dickey considers Tim Butcher’s “Blood River: A Journey to Africa’s Broken Heart,” which takes readers deep into the Congo

Vagrant Ruminations of a Compulsive Traveler

Where does the urge to hunt for that “fleeting fix of elsewhere” come from? Peter Wortsman recalls a life of travel inspiration. 

Rolf Potts: Revelations from a Postmodern Travel Writer

His new book “Marco Polo Didn’t Go There” includes his best stories from the past 10 years. Michael Yessis asks him how travel writing has changed in the last decade—and what he sees for the future.

Notes From an Unofficial Tourist Greeter

Summer is over, and so is Julia Ross‘ season as an ambassador to travelers in Washington, D.C.’s Woodley Park neighborhood. She’s happy to be off duty.

10 Great Travel Race Movies

Slow travel is well and good. But there’s something irresistible about a great travel race movie. World Hum Travel Movie Clubbers Eva Holland and Eli Ellison share their favorite vicarious thrill rides.

How Should I Spend My Time in Spain?

Vagabonding traveler Rolf Potts answers your questions about travel

‘Into the Wild’ McCandless Pilgrims Descending on Remote Bus

I read the book and thought McCandless was a creep. He basically tortured his family and those people who cared about him with this little adventure. When the movie came out I was hoping beyond all hope he would NOT be made into something mythical, or worse, a hero. I was so aggravated that the movie did exactly what I feared. Now people want to GO to that bus. I’m horrified. I’m told there is a documentary called “The Call of the Wild” that tells the truth and I’m off to Netflix to see if I can get that. I’d love to visit Alaska, but when I finally get there, I’ll NOT be visiting that bus like it’s a shrine.

The McCandless bus story is the single most commented-upon post on our blog:
http://intelligenttravel.typepad.com/it/2007/10/into-the-wild-t.html

Christopher was not a creep. Obviously you have probably had an easy, simple life. No family problems, no internal battles. Obviously he was not a hero, he was a human being. But in the end, it was the kindness he had that made him a great person. Making ethical decisions. He discovered true happiness and truth which is something you can not even fathom. If my parents had issues like that, I would leave them as well. Now go drink your starbucks and go back to your corporate job. I’m off to alaska to see what I can discover from his journals.

Well, thanks for proving my point.

True happiness and truth? You do realize he died a very ugly death. The movie romanticized it, but tell me, do you know what Christopher weighed when he died? Do you realize he was devouring his own muscle tissue from within.

Go to Alaska. I’d like to go there myself one day. But before you go, at least bother to LEARN enough about survival to not make the ridiculous choices Christopher made in his anti-parent rebellion. He wasted his life. He didn’t discover truth and peace, he tortured himself to death with his own stupidity and brought endless pain to his family and friends who loved him. We can definitely learn from him, but not by painting him as some sort of hero when he was really just a messed up kid who blew his chance at life by walking into something he had no real knowledge of.

I’m sorry you think that anyone who doesn’t appreciate the fairy tale of McCandless and the bus is automatically a shallow person, free from real world problems. I think if you took the time to look deeper at someone like me, you might find someone who FACED their issues to rise above their problems and to make a contribution to this world rather than running off whining to die alone because of their foolishness.

Brenda,
I understand your point.
Perhaps you could look at this from a more sympathetic perspective.
I agree that people should not romanticize the tragic results of Chris’ choices while he lived.
However, is it possible that his choices were based on perceptions very real to Chris?
He was a well-read, intelligent young man, by all accounts.
Is it possible that he inadvertently put himself into a potentially lethal position by packing bare necessities (excluding a map and compass, which most individuals might pack)? In other words, is it possible he was very aware of the risks and made the choice anyway (to hike so far in solitude)?
I hear your anger and frustration at people who may “idolize” him.  I don’t believe people are as unintelligent as you imply. I think people “get” what Chris himself was attempting to do.  And that is for no one to judge.  We will never know to what extent Chris suffered emotionally.  Allow people to have their opinion. You are free to express yours.

Natalie, I understand what you are saying. My rather terse response was to someone assuming my life was all perfect peace and happiness, corporate job, starbucks, etc.

Having just returned from Alaska with visit to Denali Park, and not seeing the movie until now I wonder why this kid thought he could survive up there with so little supplies.  If he had researched the area at all he would have known the perils. Who knows why he really starved to death.  Could have been a mistaken plant, but more than likely I think he just did not have any idea what he was doing in the bush.  Lucky he made it that long.  Not a dumb kid either.  He chose to die this way.  Just a long journey to get there.