Of course.

<Slap type="forehead">!</Slap>

Meh. Well whatever, I enjoyed it anyway. I may even watch it again later if I get any more stoned

Cheers Brook,

rtwl

Seemed lonely.

For years, I've whirled and twirled around the idea of taking a year to travel solo. Brook, your film was incredible (I just watched it last night)!! But it seemed so lonely, making short-term friendships that eventually leave you hardened to goodbye's. Seeing one place, then another, until they all run together.

Someone tell me...is that really what it feels like? Do you feel the world (and the people you meet) lose their wonder and awe at a certain point?

The tenth bite of dessert doesn't taste as good as the first but does that mean you don't eat dessert? Fifth Bite of Dessert (blog entry)

I disagree that the places run together. I could sit here and list, in order, all the places I visited more than a year after I got back. You do become numb to things and in a way the places just become backdrops to a lifestyle, but oh what a lifestyle.

And, yes, it can be lonely. But its the loneliness that compels you to connect so strongly to the people you do meet. Its the loneliness that compels you to meet so many people and develop a new relationship with yourself.

A better argument for not going might be the evidence of how impossible so many travelers find their return. The excitement of being away, the freedom of not working is just so much better than being back.

If the best reason not to do something is because everything after won't be as good, that's not much of a reason not to go. That's like not eating the dessert because it might taste too good.

Hey Brook,

I'm sure that this is a FAQ, but when and where are you going on your next trip? You're not a "one hit wonder" are you?

Don't think i'd plan another yearlong trip, maybe just buy a one way ticket next time. Hoping to hit Europe this summer and Africa this winter but I'm not committing to anything beyond going to the beach tomorrow.

I wrote this as a User Comment in IMDB - I suggest you rate the movie there yourself - and if you disagree with me, write your own comment:
IMDB: A Map for Saturday

Often when I speak to friends who have read Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, they say that the movies are not completely satisfying, but that it is next to impossible to make it better (and stay more true to the book). I agree with that - and I think the same is true for 'A Map for Saturday'.

I am a traveler. Born in Europe, I have traveled Europe extensively. I did a RTW (Around The World Trip), I traveled several individual countries independently, I have traveled specific regions independently - generally speaking, I am a nomad (and currently an expat). So, yeah, I was very curious what 'A Map for Saturday' could do for me. While watching the movie, I had many moments of nodding, I had many moments of pure joy because some memories came over me and I definitely understood where most of these people were coming from: backpacking = freedom, backpacking = a one time opportunity, backpacking scares you into open-mindedness, etc., etc. However, eventually the movie left me wanting. On one hand, because I wanted to run into the storage room and pack my gear (which is a good thing). But on the other hand also because it was rather one dimensional. Yes, the impact meeting other travelers has on you when you do a one year solo trip is undeniable. And yes, it is interesting to hear these '5 hours friends' opinions, motivations and philosophy. But that goes only that far. It's shallow - something the director recognizes himself, but doesn't break out off. And that is why the movie is one dimensional. That's why the movie is more a study of a subculture, rather than trying to communicate the essence of backpacking. Backpacking is not exclusively about other foreigners, partying, shagging, meeting and leaving friends - it's also (and hopefully even more so) about the local people and the local culture. And that is something the movie does touch on only marginally - which is in the end why I can not really relate to the movie, despite being a backpacker.

Like I said in the beginning: it's not a great movie, but it's going to be difficult to make it better. If you are a traveler (or have been), I recommend picking it up to go down memory lane for a while. If you are considering doing a RTW, most definitely watch this movie, it'll give you some confidence. But if you want to experience the backpacking feeling: grab you pack and hit the road.

I've now watched it twice!! We leave 26Aug for 12-15mths on the road and what was so fascinating to me about the DVD was that it wasn't really about the places he went but about the people he met along the way..very unusual in todays travel channel world.
It definitely got us reved up & even more excited to leave!

I just bought it the other day. Hasn't arrived yet.


If anyone wants to buy it from me after I've watched it, send me a PM. I paid $19.50 for it, with S&H, and I'll send it to you for $15.

I got my copy yesterday. Enjoyed every minute of it. Good look into the lives of the people on their rtw and the feelings, thoughts and emotions that follow as they traveled around.

Very enjoyable. Motivating. Makes me even more eager and antsy.

Just watched it. I must admit that my sole reason for purchasing and watching this documentary was to see what size backpacks the people had. And it seemed that everyone had those huge packs plus a daypack. It is time for me to buy a pack and I still don't know what size will be appropriate for me. Everything I've read has told me that a small carry-on sized pack is the way to go. But in real backpacking life, it seems no one does that.

Anyway, having watched it, I'd say the documentary was ok. Brook did a really good professional job of putting it together. However, I would have prefered if he focused more on his interactions with locals rather than his interactions with other backpackers. That's just an aspect of backpacking that would have liked to see more of. Maybe I should do a documentary.

jamileblog.blogspot.com

Well, don't forget that Brook was constrained to 5 pounds (whatever that means in your crazy American-speak ) of clothing with his 30 pounds (yes, again) of camera gear. So even as a first-timer he showed that one can get by with very little clothing and such. In theory, packing light should be easy for anyone without a load of camera gear. And yet...as you see...people do what they will do

I don't think the point of the doc was about his trip and interactions with locals (though he did feature those in Nepal). It was examining the ups and downs of being a backpacker.

Well, yes, Justin: but to me the interaction with the locals is the biggest part of these ups and downs. What is portrayed in AMFS seems very shallow to me: sightseeing and hanging with the other travelers. Hence my review above.

But on these lines the thread will change in a a Traveler vs Backpacker vs Tourist discussion.

Justin, not to argue a minor point, but that feature was more on the politics of Nepal, than his day to day interactions with the Nepali.

Brook chose to focus on a certain aspect of his backpacking experience and did an excellent job with it. I won't go as far as elAdi in saying that it seems very shallow, because as someone who has not travelled as yet, I think I gained some insight into how backpackers live. But I understand elAdi's point.

In my previous post, when I wrote "Maybe I should do a documentary." That was my way of saying that if I want to see a backpacking documentary with a different focus, I should make one rather than criticize Brook's effort over something he didn't intend to do.

jamileblog.blogspot.com