Stuff: High speed tours

As usual, my camera was sitting handy in the glove box as I pulled up behind one of these tour buses this morning.


In case you were wondering, the English stencil on the bus doesn't exactly reflect the true meaning of the Korean one.

Actual translation: 세계(World)고속(High Speed)관광(Tours)

What never ceases to amaze me about some of these tours that operate on the grand theory of seeing ten countries in 2 hours, which I assume this tour company is part of, is:

How do they do it, and who'd be crazy enough to join their cause?!

I mean, how in the world do you see Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France and Netherlands, spanning over 2000 kilometers in just 10 days on a bus? An aunt was in one. Maybe Jordan and the whole of Turkey's north to south coastline of over 1000 kilometers in 1 week? Mum was in that one. Now this Korean 'High Speed' tour ~ the whole of the South Korean Peninsula in a weekend perhaps??

*Not sure if the tours might throw in North Korea on the 3rd day, but unless you're dead-set Adventerous (spelt with a capital "A"), I'm not sure if too many people will be keen on that one.

This made me realize how fortunate I have been over the last few years to travel for work, taking time in-between work to see the sights and soak in the local culture(s). Not many people have the luxury of time or money for multiple trips, but still, that defeats the whole purpose of traveling isn't it?

Bringing back only pictures and not a single memory of where they went... Admiring nice scenery and not knowing the significance of what they are looking at... Bringing back loads of souvenirs and not a story to tell of the local culture...

Just food for thought.