Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with exploration

Well written, snarky exploration blogs?

shinyshiny — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:43:48 -0800

I'm reading through DetroitBlog's archives, and at my rate I'll be finished today. Are there any similar blogs? I know about Forgotten New York, which I also read. I'm looking for well written, snarky exploration tales, basically. Any city, any country, rural or urban. Something that tells about little-known local histories. As a plus, any spanish blogs would be interesting.

Virtual Vacation Worlds

lord_yo — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:50:27 -0800

Are there any games which let you just explore and enjoy the scenery, like a walk-in painting or virtual vacation? (single-player preferred) I really enjoy games which give you the possibility to explore beautifully created surroundings, without a specific goal, except occasional mini-games. For example, the thing I loved most about GTA:San Andreas was not the missions, but driving around the country side. In the late 90s, multimedia producers created early versions of this (including an explorable version of The Simpson's Springfield), but I haven't seen anything like that since.

I'm looking for single-player games, if there are any, or maybe multiuser environments, if they are really well done (I know Second Life already, but the graphics are not very good).

By the way, does this genre have a name?

I'm so bored with the USA

hamandcheese — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:26:15 -0800

Where should my wife and I go traveling in January and February on less than $10,000 CDN? Hi all,

Well, as a follow-up to my previous life-choices question, it looks like my wife and I will be able to do some backpacking in the New Year. And we're wondering where to go.

She has recently been laid off from her job (with a decent payout package) and I will be leaving mine as well. She has a good job offer in another small Canadian city, and if she takes it we will be moving there in February or March. This was not part of our long-term plan, but we're okay taking the plunge. The thing is, if we decide to do this (and if the final offer is good enough), we will be foregoing our actual plan of buggering off to teach English in Thailand for a while longer, so we want to reward ourselves with some overseas travel in January and February.

We will probably have about $8,000 CDN or so, and I'd like to be able to stretch this to cover our expenses for 6-8 weeks if possible. Our flights will have to come out of this amount as well and we'll be flying out of Canada. We've both been to Europe multiple times so would prefer somewhere a little more exotic. I'd like to go to the Old World, but we are really open to travelling pretty much anywhere. Where should we go? What should we see?

We are both experienced budget travelers, fully comfortable in hostels, budget hotels etc. It would be nice to get our own room once in a while of course. We're into things like history, archaeology, nature, museums, and tasty food.

Also, good resources for budget travel deals or websites would be welcome as well.

Where would you go? Thanks!

Does this game genre even have a name?

The Winsome Parker Lewis — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:18:17 -0800

What are some great computer games for people who enjoy non-linear privateering, combat, and risky missions? I've loved the Escape Velocity games for years. I recently got into Frontier (previously) and enjoyed it a lot, but it was way too short and easy. I'd like to try Transcendence (previously) but I'm on a Mac, and I'd like to try SAIS (previously) but I can't get it to run under Snow Leopard. Finally, I just discovered Skyrates (previously) and it's fun but so very slow.

All that build-up is to ask: What other Macintosh or Flash games are like these? Specifically I'm looking for games that feature trading, fighting, upgrades and customization, and a big world to explore. I especially love games that let you choose to be good or evil (or neutral) and to become a hero, villain, or impossibly wealthy merchant. Even better if there are a bunch of different factions to choose from besides "good" and "evil," with shades of moral ambiguity. If the game is free that's also a big plus. Any suggestions?

Seeking stories of men and women who -- either by way of adventure or by circumstance -- succumbed to the elements after a protracted attempt at survival...

cadastral — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:57:30 -0800

I've read and loved the histories of Sir Robert Falcon Scott, James Kim, George Mallory, S. A. Andrée, et cetera, and now I would like to be pointed towards more stories of men and women who -- either by way of adventure or by circumstance -- succumbed to the elements after a protracted attempt at survival... preferably leaving a rich and well-written-about story.

Great God! This is an awful place and terrible enough for us to have laboured to it without the reward of priority... but for my own sake I do not regret this journey, which has shown that Englishmen can endure hardships, help one another, and meet death with as great a fortitude as ever in the past. We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of providence, determined still to do our best to the last ... Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale...-Robert Falcon Scott, 1912

This kind of stuff really tugs at me and gets me on some gut-level. I read Scott's journals a couple of years ago, and lately have been devouring everything I can get my hands on regarding James Kim. Which other stories have been documented (either first-hand, or by others) in similar ways. They need not be famous or well-known... just compellingly documented

Despite a past personal interest in dead alpinists and mountaineers, I feel like I've read everything printed on the subject, and it's not my chief interest at the moment... though I can't really see a reason to not include them, past my own personal preference.

Lastly, here are some wikipedia categories I've consulted that may give you an idea of what I've found, so far. Thanks for your help.

Category:Antarctic expedition deaths
Deaths from hypothermia
Mountaineering deaths
Mountaineering deaths on Mount Everest
Accidental human deaths in the United States

Looking for nonfiction books about exploration-type stuff

mudpuppie — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:18:04 -0800

YABRT (Yet Another Book Recommendation Thread): Please recommend some nonfiction camping-trip reading along the lines of True North, Endurance, and In the Heart of the Sea. The above are all engagingly written nonfiction books about exploration and/or loooooooong sea journeys that I myself would never even consider making. There were hardships: Frostbite, shipwreck, cannibalism. You know, the usual.

Can you recommend other books in a similar vein? Bonus points for seafaring tales, but that's not a strict requirement. Also, I'm not really into historical autobiographies; I prefer 20th-century accounts that provide added context and use multiple fascinating primary sources.

How's that for specific?

Mythical and mysterious places of the Northwest?

anonymisc — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:58:26 -0800

Have car, seek roadtrip and adventure! What are some secret/mythical/mysterious/epic places in WA state (or nearby states), that would be a destination fit for pilgrimage? Centralia / Silent Hill is in PA. The Abyss is in SC, Area51 is in NV, Mesa Verde is in CO, Barringer Crater is in AZ, etc etc. What mysterious secret places can be pried from the Northwest? I'm fit and able, so the destination doesn't need a road right up to the front porch (and is perhaps better if some element of challenge is involved), but the vehicle is a (very) low street-car, so the first challenge is not being able to use offroad/rough/4x4 routes. (Of course, if 4x4 is required but the destination is mysterious enough, then it will be appreciatively filed away for future adventure)

Perforating Mexicans

ljshapiro — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:49:04 -0800

I'm researching the La Mexicaine De Perforation (aka the Perforating Mexicans), who are connected to the Untergunther and Les UX. Does anyone have any knowledge of or contact to these groups? (Check out the links if you don't know who/what these group are - very interesting.) I'm very good at googling and searching the net, so I don't need help there. I'm looking for direct knowledge or connections. Thanks!

Hey, the grafitti on the rooftop of 111 S. Anderson, is the most creative in town!

sixcolors — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:10:14 -0800

What are some places "off the beaten path", I can explore in urban environments? For photography, and my own amusement. I know the term "off the beaten path" is usually associated rural or more remote places. That's not really my interest right now, especially that it is 20 degrees outside.

I am interested in finding places in a city that are hard to access and/or places that few people know about. If it helps, I am in southern Illinois, so the two largest cities I am near are St. Louis and Chicago. But, suggestions from any city would be fine, because I can probably find something similar here or I can keep those suggestions in mind when I travel to other parts of the country.

It can be buildings, special rooms/areas in buildings, alleys, tunnels, whatever. Occupied or vacant. A general place (I heard that NYC has several secret bars) or something specific (the St. Louis City Library has an area where the floor is made of glass).

Urban exploration, in the form of exploring tunnels and abandoned warehouses are out. I did those things in college, and now I'm looking for something new.

Treasure Hunting in the Bay Area

cucumberfresh — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:40:53 -0800

Please recommend some good places to go treasure hunting in the SF Bay Area. I'm in the mood for exploring and I'd love to know where I might search for nifty rocks or seashells in the Bay Area. The more specific the better, and bonus points for places in SF or the North Bay.

Alternately, what are some good places to go on a visual "treasure hunt?" An example of what I'm looking for might be bird watching at Audobon Canyon Ranch or the upcoming Photojojo Safari to see murals in the Mission.

Thank you in advance!

A group of urban explorers needs help

Holy foxy moxie batman! — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:19:37 -0800

Urban exploration question. Does anyone know of any entrances to the Seattle Underground? I know their is an official underground tour, but is anyone aware of any other entrances to the "unofficial" underground? I have been told their is a warehouse entrance but don't know Seattle well enough to know where to find it.

I know it's dangerous and quite a bit of it is no longer accessible due to new buildings being put up but if anyone does have a bit of knowledge on the subject, it would be greatly appreciated.

Victorian era travel journals and exploration books?

thewalrus — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:02:55 -0800

I'm looking for historical travel journals and books in the public domain. Specifically I'm interested in anything related to Victorian era exploration of the middle east and central Asia. About one month ago I came across the Project Gutenberg collection of books written by Arnold Henry Savage Landor, who seemed to delight in traveling "the hard way". As an example, in 1902 he decided to ride the train from Moscow to Baku, get on a Caspian lake steamer, travel to a port in Northern Iran and make his way over land through Iran to the western end of Balochistan, and from there to Quetta. In true Victorian era explorer fashion he brought a huge and unwieldy collection of scientific instruments, cameras, modern rifles, pistols and other things which baffled the local population. Reading any of his books one shifts between a sense of amusement (the guy believed in phrenology!) and genuine fascination at his observations of places and cultures that had rarely been explored or contacted by English speaking cultures. He goes into some detail about the historical, tribal and cultural background of the people in western Balochistan and southern / south-west Afghanistan.

Another example of a book in this genre is the Mark Twain non-fiction work Following the Equator in which he devotes a large section to describing his 1895 travels over-land throughout Australia, India and South Africa, with many amusing Twain-style anecdotes about the local cultures seen from the perspective of an American humor writer.

I'm looking for more public domain books in this style, although the Victorian era doesn't need to match exactly. Scientific observations aside, I found Darwin's Voyage of the Beagle to be a fascinating read. If it's something I can get from Project Gutenberg in plain TXT / HTML formats that would be a plus.

What Could I Do With My 2009?

divabat — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:03:03 -0800

This year's my final year of my degree. My psychologist asked me if I had any plans for next year. My original plan fell apart, so now I don't really have anything. Hmm. What could I look into? So I didn't get shortlisted for the Danish KaosPilots. Ouch. I'm still sad about it, but I've had two weeks to brood about it and it's time to move on.

Since I had been so single-mindedly focused on that one goal for the past six months, I didn't really consider Plans B, C, and so on. (I did consider that it would be a possibility, but I didn't spend too much time on it.) I had been pretty worn out from all that preparation and planning, so I'm taking at least this month off from anything along the lines of "my future" and just do random things for a while. If something strikes me as interesting, I'd apply for it, but I won't devote much time or energy on it.

I do still have to think about next year though. This is my final year; I'm finishing off all my required subjects this sem and have 4 electives free next semester. Deciding what to do after university isn't really a clear-cut process, as there are a few complex factors that need to be considered.

While I don't think I'm quite ready to devote my entire life to one pursuit (like I did before), and I don't want to commit to something just yet, I'd like to explore my options and just take a look at what seems interesting.

I'm interested in young people, non-traditional education, culture, community work, and making a difference. What could I do? What could I explore?

Some ideas:

1. Apply for the KaosPilots in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) - it starts roughly around the same time as the Denmark school, but they seem a lot more excited about potentially having me (though I don't want to get my heart broken again!!)

2. Do a Masters or a Grad Dip in something - some courses that look interesting and are more the kind of stuff I'm interested in are the Non-Profit/Philantrophy stream in QUT's Business programs (though I'm ineligible because they're part-time); International Comparative Education and Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies in Stanford; Arts in Youth and Community Development in Columbia College Chicago; SIT Graduate Programs; Humane Education. Possibly also education in general, social work, or counselling. I'd rather it be more experiential and real-world as I'm sick of academic writing and learn best by doing, but I'm not sure how to search out this information.

3. Get a job in Australia. The main problem here is visas - to be eligible for the 18-month bridging visa, my job has to pay me at least $40,000/year - next to impossible for entry level, especially in the creative industries/community services which are underfunded. The other option is to be sponsored by a company, but they need to have a lot of resources to prove that I'm better than any Australian candidate, and most of the companies that would otherwise be an excellent fit just can't afford to do so.

4. Get a job in Malaysia. No visa issues, but prospects are pretty low as there aren't as many opportunities.

5. Take some of my ideas and make them real (so this would also involve research on funding, project management, how I'll survive while I plan out my project...)

6. Apply for my dream job at UWP, if it's available

7. Take up the partial scholarship from The Scholar Ship and travel for a sem - might need to reapply though. Alternatively, travel on similar programs (though funding would be an issue)

8. Take up BrainStore's traineeship offer - 3 months in Switzerland. It's actually meant for this August but I could defer it.

9. Apply for a fellowship to something - I've applied to a couple that don't require much travel (and pay expenses if I have to). Sauve Scholars would be COOL. I'm not sure where to search for these though - most of the ones I find require you to already have a project in mind, but I want to find a project I can get involved with.

10. Stay at home, mooch off the parents. While desirable by my parents (who sometimes have Empty Nest Syndrome) I would be bored very quickly.

11. Travel, though this would eat up money mainly in visa fees (damn Bangladesh passport).

12. Do a second degree in something, or a random course that's more for fun than anything else

13. Try to be famous for...something.

As I've said before, I'm most interested in exploring possibilities than anything else, so feel free to toss me any suggestions - schools, programs, people, countries (particularly those not picky with visas), companies, visa advice, etc. Most of the best/most interesting ones tend to be US-specific, so anything that allows internationals would be best (e.g. an international City Year or Peace Corps).

If nothing else, just looking at all the ideas would get me a little more excited about life and lift me out from my dumps!

Thank you!

Coolest places in New York to visit at night?

shivohum — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:52:10 -0800

What are the coolest, not incredibly expensive places in New York to visit at night? What's unusual and marvelous and memorable? Might include particularly interesting bars, might not. The ability to drink (or bring drinks) would be a plus, but not a necessity. Thanks.

Ad Astra Per Aspera!

Rhaomi — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:27:13 -0800

Seeking recommendations for some great space exploration/simulation games. I tend to be an observant, introverted, imaginative person, so any game that offers a rich universe to explore is right up my alley. I'm more of a sci-fi fan than a fantasy one, though, so I prefer space exploration games over the more popular "fantasy world" franchises like Ultima, Oblivion, Fable, and WoW.

Unfortunately, few games in the space sim genre have struck my fancy, so I humbly turn to the Hive Mind for some advice on new titles to explore. Here are some of the games I've seen that have come closest to my ideal, to give you an idea of exactly what I'm looking for:

Noctis - Probably the best example. A staggeringly huge persistent galaxy, with billions of planets and moons to wander. The art style is evocative and spare. First-person, 3-D, and with an emphasis on open-ended exploration. See this review for an excellent description of this game's appeal.

"The real joy of Noctis lies in setting eyes on alien landscapes that nobody has ever seen before. From verdant rain forests to bleak, blasted deserts, the worlds of Noctis never fail to engage the senses. In my voyages I have found icy planetoids so distant from their parent stars that it is impossible to tell where the ground ends and the darkened sky begins. I have swum upon giant worlds with liquid-rock surfaces whose temperatures extend into the thousands of degrees Kelvin. I have watched triplicate stars rise above placid green meadows, their light refracted by a high canopy of crystalline trees. From mountainous peaks extending thousands of meters above rolling oceans, I have gazed down at my distant landing pod and marveled at my own precious insignificance."

Unfortunately, the game's graphics are not the best, there's no sound, and the long-awaited sequel is pretty much vaporware at this point.
Spore - Not out yet, I know, but its vast galaxy of traversable planets teeming with life has more than caught my attention.
Infinity: The Quest for Earth - Also not out yet, but a good example of what I'm after. Persistent universe, billions of planets, ability to land and explore on foot, realistic scales, etc. Developer's page is here, Wiki article here.
Battlecruiser: Millenium - A laughably bad game in most respects, this one captured my imagination as a kid for its large catalog of planets and the ability to enter their atmospheres and walk, swim, and fly across their surfaces. Click here for a decent write-up of the game.
Celestia - Really more of a glorified planetarium than a game. Once you leave the Solar System there isn't much visual stimulation to be found, but I still love this space sim for its great interface and the way it conveys the immense scale of the universe.

And, just to clarify things, here are the types of games that I am NOT looking for:

Space flight simulators - I'm not too keen on having to pilot the orbital equivalent of a Boeing 747 just to get around. The aforementioned Battlecruiser lost a lot of points in this respect. Noctis hit the sweet spot of navigation, with its point-and-click interface and the ability to name and leave notes on locations in a shared database.
Space combat games - Combat can be present, but it shouldn't be the game's primary component.
MMOs or subscription-based games - There are plenty of "WoW in space!"-type games (EVE, Anarchy Online, Star Wars Galaxies), but most of them don't quite fit the bill. The focus in these games is usually on player interaction (trade, combat, role-playing), while exploration is an interesting novelty, or even unavailable. Infinity (mentioned above) comes closest to my ideal MMO exploration game.

So, bottom line: I'm looking for a persistent 3D universe, preferably procedurally generated (millions of worlds or more), that permits open-ended exploration both in-system and on-planet. Something solitary, relaxing, and beautiful, with plenty of visual variety. Online/offline functionality doesn't matter.

Thanks in advance!

Newbie urban explorer in the Bay Area.

archagon — Thu, 31 May 2007 18:52:38 -0800

I've always wanted to try urban exploration, but I don't have anyone to do it with. How does a newbie urban explorer get into the hobby? Are there any urban explorer groups or meetups in the Bay Area friendly to beginners? What's the best way to find abandoned buildings or otherwise appropriate structures in a specific area? Thanks!

Can I go get eaten in Borneo?

borkingchikapa — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 09:51:46 -0800

So let's say you're a white dude wandering around in the Amazon. Or whatever. Are there actually still indigenous people anywhere in the world that would chase you down and attempt to kill you with bows and arrows, without provocation besides territorial invasion, a la this terrible movie I'm watching? Yeah, ok, not everyone has internet access, but I have a hard time believing that anyone on the planet is that far removed from the outside world.

What happened in Sacramento?

i8ny3x — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 16:40:22 -0800

My co-workers and I are interested in forming a group that explores the cultural history of Sacramento, but we're not sure where to start. The idea is to visit the places in Sacramento referenced in books and movies, and also actual places where recent historical events took place.

Here is from a friend's recent e-mail:

I like this list of exploration suggestions that Gail has proposed:

- Spot near Capitol where Squeaky Fromme tried to shoot Gerald Ford
- Apartment near Paragary's where Patty Hearst was held hostage briefly
- Dorothy Puente's apartment building
- Del Paso Country Club that Joan Didion dissed (this needs confirmation)
- Fields out near Marysville where Juan Corona buried his victims (apparently grave sites became a residential subdivision)
- I would also be interested in checking out things that involve the area's railroad history (my trip to the Railroad Museum with my parents piqued my interest there), the gold rush history, and finding where the Reagans lived in East Sac.

(Another co-worker) is compiling a list of books to read about Sac, though so far this list seems pretty short and limited to what could be pretty crappy mystery novels.

Is our focus too broad? Is there that much that went on in Sacramento? What else is there to explore? Other books/movies that took place/filmed in Sacramento? Thanks for your help. I'm excited about starting!

Songs about traveling!

nitsuj — Thu, 18 May 2006 09:52:37 -0800

Hi! I'm looking to compile a list of travel-oriented songs in any genre, specifically ones that hit on the independent, vagabonding, adventure, exploration style of traveling. Let's hear your suggestion!

The Wild East

klangklangston — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 09:39:59 -0800

What was life like in Siberia circa the mid-1820s? Specifically, what was life like for Decemberists who were exiled there? I have heard that it was like the Wild West, only much colder. Are there any good books on this? I've found a couple of websites referenced, but, well, I don't speak Russian. Academic history papers are also appreciated. Any good authors, novels, histories, authorities would be a help. (As a corrolary— was there a concerted exploration and surveying movement in that area at the same time? What would it have been like to be on the frontier? How would it have been different from the American frontier of a similar time [which would have been around Ohio and Michigan]?)

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!

Popular Ethics — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 12:03:00 -0800

NASA has released details today of their new "exploration architecture" which they hope will take them to the moon and mars. (really awesome movie). Help me understand a design decision. Here's a shot of the earth-moon transit stack. According to the above movie, the part on the left (with two engines and a great honkin tank) burns all the way to the moon, and is then ejected. The engine on the right (bearing a remarkable likeness to the Apollo service module) brings the spacecraft back.

As I understand it, The Apollo service module performed both duties, (it separated from the Saturn third stage while still in earth orbit).

So why the giant engine this time, and why for just one way?

Exploratory platformer shortage

squidlarkin — Mon, 27 Jun 2005 19:20:41 -0800

Metroid, Castlevania, Cave Story... I want more games in this vein. Console or PC, pro or indie, just so long as it's good.

Travelling a river

shannymara — Mon, 30 May 2005 17:54:26 -0800

Has anyone posted an account of boating the full length of a U.S. river? Or barring that, in any other developed nation? I'm thinking that this must be a really bizarre and insightful way of seeing the U.S., while avoiding the tired old roads. I'm not sure how you'd travel near the source, but I figure travelling in wet season and portaging would work. Some guys did it from the very source of the Amazon in the Peru highlands all the way to the Atlantic... why not in the U.S.?

I thought about this while reading the account of the kid who escaped civilization and died in Alaska... a couple of years before that, he sailed from Lake Mead to the mouth of the Colorado River in the Gulf of California, and pretty much found a labyrinthine swamp. I admire him for trying!

(Let's skip the Deliverance jokes!)

Upstream With a Paddle

luser — Tue, 11 May 2004 09:34:52 -0800

Lewis and Clark traveled up the Missouri River from the Mississippi to the Rockies, over 2,000 miles. UPSTREAM. What the hell? If you have to explore the river, why not just get some horses and wagons and walk alongside it? Why kill yourself paddling against the current for 2,000 miles?

I'm looking for book recomendations about the quest for knowledge for knowledge's sake.

jeffhoward — Sun, 18 Apr 2004 13:08:54 -0800

I'm looking for book recomendations about the quest for understanding. An exploration and acquisition of knowledge for knowledge's sake. A sort of unbounded curiosity about the world that shows up in the sketchbooks of Da Vinci for instance. Maybe something along the lines of The Discoverers by Daniel Boorstin.