Great piece, I loved how emersive it was. It really took me back to my time in Petra. I totally get what you mean about the mental image being "more imagined than existing" I had a similar experience where I found the Treasury anticlimactic (I preferred the Monastery) entirely because of my childhood obsession with Indian Jones (I even studied Anthropology at uni). I think it's also why I resist researching places before I travel now - I like my travel cold like my coffee. Thank you so much for introducing me to Baudrillard, I am gonna have to read up on the theory of simulacrum.
Hey thx so much Beck. Interesting you had a similar experience altho Im sure its pretty common. I realised I really should have stayed in the nearby town for a few days and spent more time at the petra site, even tho it would have been expensive (not sure where the fees go btw as the infrastructure and facilities seemed pretty poor, eg the road in was terrible i thought) Anyway, glad the piece talked to you. Lets hope we learn our lessons…😊
It is very interesting to go there with you. I wanted to visit it, but it's impossible. So a real trip description is a nice possibility.
And the problem I noticed, not only in my behaviour but in almost all tourists: we do not enjoy the moments we are living. And we lose so much with it... Personally, I almost never turn back in the places I just visited once...
Thx so much Liudmila! Thats an interesting philosophy - tell me why you never turn back? And why impossible to visit? I hope you can make it there and I suspect you are much aware than me, and wont stufg up your chance like I did...
Why I never turn back is simple: I normally study in-depth where I want to go, so I visit everything that is curious to me, and there is nothing more curious to visit next time. And there are SO MANY places I'm curious about and wanted to study and visit - I do not have time to turn back, I'm old :-)
Liudmila Im intrigued...what if you learn something you didnt know which might be worth a revisit? Maybe the first time is really it - a revisit is never to the same place: a flowing river is never the same twice said Zeno. Re affordability, I hear you. But I cant afford it either...😁
Loved this - and the photos marvellous too. Reading the Baudrillard took me back. Here’s another one from him: “Reality no longer has the time to take on the appearance of reality… it captures every dream even before it takes on the appearance of a dream.”
Thanks for this piece -- Petra's always been somewhere on my list, but perhaps I've downgraded its priority a bit because of overexposure. Your piece makes me want to put it back higher again where it belongs!
Great writing. I definitely recognised myself in your description: the decision-making about stills versus video, the irritation with pace etc... But I also wonder if you're being a bit hard on yourself. Even a compromised experience of Petra is still an experience. Maybe the awareness itself, painful as it was, is its own kind of presence. You noticed what you were doing, that counts for something.
Aww. Youre so sweet Ibtissam. I guess I was being a little dramatic but I do feel a sense of communication across time when Im in places like Petra. History talks…
Beautiful piece, JJ. I felt like I was there in Petra myself with the Treasury building looming large in the background.
Your point about the myth of places that constant imagery creates in our minds was profound. I felt something similar when I rounded the bend and saw Machu Picchu for the first time. On the one hand, it was as breathtaking as everyone said, on the other I focused way too much on getting the right pictures rather than just sitting down, breathing and admiring.
Hey thx so much Nic. Glad the piece worked for you. Someone told me ages ago that you shouldnt try and escape by travelling as “wherever you go, there you are”. Its so true as we lug our personal selves everywhere and struggle to get away from ourselves even just for those moments like mine and yours in such extraordinary places. Its so hard to centre and ground at such times isnt it? Ah well, we keep trying…😊
Brilliant. A reality reflection of an iconic place usually embued with descriptions of legendary wonder and mind-blowingness in any number of mass-favouring documentaries. As so often happens, imagination and anticipation greater than the actuality. However, one big difference - you have now actually been there. In the long-term, that memory (and your eye-witness account) is much more favourable than an unfulfilled dream.
Thx so much for that really thoughtful feedback. It is such a common problem isnt it, and I cant really blame phones either. In fact, I had a similar experience at angkor wat before phones and was fumbling with my canon eos instead…baudrillard was on the money I think. He can be hard reading times but getting to the essence is rewarding. Go well!
Great piece, I loved how emersive it was. It really took me back to my time in Petra. I totally get what you mean about the mental image being "more imagined than existing" I had a similar experience where I found the Treasury anticlimactic (I preferred the Monastery) entirely because of my childhood obsession with Indian Jones (I even studied Anthropology at uni). I think it's also why I resist researching places before I travel now - I like my travel cold like my coffee. Thank you so much for introducing me to Baudrillard, I am gonna have to read up on the theory of simulacrum.
Hey thx so much Beck. Interesting you had a similar experience altho Im sure its pretty common. I realised I really should have stayed in the nearby town for a few days and spent more time at the petra site, even tho it would have been expensive (not sure where the fees go btw as the infrastructure and facilities seemed pretty poor, eg the road in was terrible i thought) Anyway, glad the piece talked to you. Lets hope we learn our lessons…😊
It is very interesting to go there with you. I wanted to visit it, but it's impossible. So a real trip description is a nice possibility.
And the problem I noticed, not only in my behaviour but in almost all tourists: we do not enjoy the moments we are living. And we lose so much with it... Personally, I almost never turn back in the places I just visited once...
Thx so much Liudmila! Thats an interesting philosophy - tell me why you never turn back? And why impossible to visit? I hope you can make it there and I suspect you are much aware than me, and wont stufg up your chance like I did...
Why I never turn back is simple: I normally study in-depth where I want to go, so I visit everything that is curious to me, and there is nothing more curious to visit next time. And there are SO MANY places I'm curious about and wanted to study and visit - I do not have time to turn back, I'm old :-)
Liudmila Im intrigued...what if you learn something you didnt know which might be worth a revisit? Maybe the first time is really it - a revisit is never to the same place: a flowing river is never the same twice said Zeno. Re affordability, I hear you. But I cant afford it either...😁
When I learn something worth a revisit, I do it, but I always try to plan it differently. My brain requires new research and discoveries.
Loved this - and the photos marvellous too. Reading the Baudrillard took me back. Here’s another one from him: “Reality no longer has the time to take on the appearance of reality… it captures every dream even before it takes on the appearance of a dream.”
Ah thanks so much Laura! Great quote. Probably should have used that one. Might have to hire you as my quote wingman😁
Thanks for this piece -- Petra's always been somewhere on my list, but perhaps I've downgraded its priority a bit because of overexposure. Your piece makes me want to put it back higher again where it belongs!
Thx mate and I really you make. Just dont stuff it up like i did!😊
Great writing. I definitely recognised myself in your description: the decision-making about stills versus video, the irritation with pace etc... But I also wonder if you're being a bit hard on yourself. Even a compromised experience of Petra is still an experience. Maybe the awareness itself, painful as it was, is its own kind of presence. You noticed what you were doing, that counts for something.
Aww. Youre so sweet Ibtissam. I guess I was being a little dramatic but I do feel a sense of communication across time when Im in places like Petra. History talks…
Beautiful piece, JJ. I felt like I was there in Petra myself with the Treasury building looming large in the background.
Your point about the myth of places that constant imagery creates in our minds was profound. I felt something similar when I rounded the bend and saw Machu Picchu for the first time. On the one hand, it was as breathtaking as everyone said, on the other I focused way too much on getting the right pictures rather than just sitting down, breathing and admiring.
Hey thx so much Nic. Glad the piece worked for you. Someone told me ages ago that you shouldnt try and escape by travelling as “wherever you go, there you are”. Its so true as we lug our personal selves everywhere and struggle to get away from ourselves even just for those moments like mine and yours in such extraordinary places. Its so hard to centre and ground at such times isnt it? Ah well, we keep trying…😊
Brilliant. A reality reflection of an iconic place usually embued with descriptions of legendary wonder and mind-blowingness in any number of mass-favouring documentaries. As so often happens, imagination and anticipation greater than the actuality. However, one big difference - you have now actually been there. In the long-term, that memory (and your eye-witness account) is much more favourable than an unfulfilled dream.
Thx so much for that really thoughtful feedback. It is such a common problem isnt it, and I cant really blame phones either. In fact, I had a similar experience at angkor wat before phones and was fumbling with my canon eos instead…baudrillard was on the money I think. He can be hard reading times but getting to the essence is rewarding. Go well!