[MD] travelling vs tourism

[David M]

Hi Gav

Funny you should say that, I was wondering today why
we seem to make such a hell out of this life when there
is no necessity to do so.

Thanks for the post.
David M

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "gav" <gav_gc at yahoo.com.au>
To: <moq_discuss at moqtalk.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 12:04 AM
Subject: [MD] travelling vs tourism


> end tourism now!!!!!!!!
>
> tourism is corporate travel: the mobile spectacle.
> comfort and convenience are paramount. tourism is for
> wieners.
>
> i just spent 5 days on fraser island, walking and
> camping. i ran into 10 other walkers, all cool,
> friendly people from all over the world: germany, US,
> slovenia, australia. they all were totally rapt in the
> environment, were part of it and knew that to despoil
> it was out of the question: like masturbating in front
> of your mum.
>
> the tourists come in their droves in buses and cars
> into a world heritage jewel and they shit on it and
> they whoop and holler and display their retardedness
> for all to see. again the whole world is represented
> but it is the yanks and brits that are the most
> obnoxious.
>
> lake mckenzie is a pristine freshwater lake that is
> dazzling to the eye. pure white silica sand fringing
> the perfectly clear water that contains the azure blue
> of the cloudless sky above. thick forest encircles the
> whole and creates what must be a shining eye to the
> birds above. on this pure white fine fine sand are
> flung dozens and dozens of cigarette butts. five years
> ag - my last trip - i would have had to search hard
> for one, but now the tourists are here in droves and
> their mindless destruction follows them, the shadow of
> their conflicted, twisted selves. this is sacrilege!
> this is blasphemy! this is so abhorrent, so wrong.
>
> it is hard not to look upon tourists as dross when you
> are a traveller. you must always keep the heart open
> but this means that it flows outward in its pain and
> frustration also. the word 'tourist' is pejorative
> around the world and this is an example why.
>
> and yes i have been both. i have been both tourist and
> traveller and perhaps all travellers start as
> tourists. it is important to remember this, i tell
> myself. the traveller is an individual; the tourist is
> part of the herd. the traveller is guided
> intellectually, aesthetically; the tourist socially.
> the tourist IS a lower form of life and this is why it
> seems so.
>
> but i should end with my own experience because it was
> very special. i spent the time with an ex-girlfriend
> whom some of you know. our time together was a ritual,
> a transformation. one relationship ended and two began
> on that trip and we are both different people than a
> week ago.
>
> to be literally alone - noone around for 10 or 20
> kms; to be in ancient beautiful forest. to begin to
> feel the power, to begin to see the energy, to begin
> to get the 'aha!s' when your mind makes the connection
> between aboriginal art patterns and the subtle
> energies of these truly wild places. to be silent and
> still and have the forest come to you and envelop you
> and absorb you and to begin to give gratitude and to
> begin to feel it coming back. the power spots of this
> world are the wild spots and they are in danger. the
> reason is always the same: the giant fears that which
> it can't understand; and it then destroys what it
> fears.
>
> i want to live in a world where nature and i are
> entwined lovingly to the point of no distinction.
> i want to live in a world where life is cultivated not
> detsroyed, for that is our unique power as humans: we
> can be custodians who nurture and protect the entirety
> of the planet. we could create paradises beyond our
> dreams, instead, as a species, we are manifesting hell
> on earth. i guess thoreau saw it coming.
>
>
> 
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