4 ms·

Why the downvote? How visiting forbidden places isn't on the top of mind for people using this is beyond me. Area 51, White House grounds, Russian military bas

Why the downvote? How visiting forbidden places isn't on the top of mind for people using this is beyond me. Area 51, White House grounds, Russian military bases, Syria. I know the experience will vary, but think big.

RileyJames 10y ago
You can go to Tehran & North Korea, just need to apply for a visa.
- strictnein 10y ago
  > "You can go to Tehran & North Korea" Leaving, on the other hand... https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/iran-travel-warning.html https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings... https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/north-korea-travel-warning.html https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings...
  - saiya-jin 10y ago
    just don't have US/Israel passport or visa stamp from there, and Iran will be one of best experiences in your life. people are amazing, culture is just WOW, whole place feels ancient even to europeans (and it is...). it is properly exotic in some parts in a way that will soon be only a thing of the past for most 'exotic' places on the earth, that look more and more like a standard copy&paste westernized locations. most people speak OK english, very welcoming and friendly. don't trust some crap propaganda.
derrickdirge 10y ago
I thought Mecca was like, the opposite of a forbidden place.
- strictnein 10y ago
  Mecca, Saudi Arabia is slightly different, of course.
- aianus 10y ago
  It's forbidden to go within 15km of Mecca if you're not Muslim.
  - 13of40 10y ago
    You need a certificate signed by an Imam, which you can likely get at your local Islamic center. Challenges include convincing the Imam that you're not just getting it to sneak into Mecca, and being able to answer follow-up questions at the roadblock in Mecca, such as, "So you're Muslim, eh? Tell us the Five Pillars."
    - flukus 10y ago
      Normal, throw, boomerang, blow up and...
amenod 10y ago
I very much doubt these places will allow virtual visitors if they forbid real ones. That is, I doubt Google will be allowed to drive through North Korea with their cars. :)
- jpreiland 10y ago
  would satellite imagery be sufficient?
  - mememachine 10y ago
    I would guess that it will still work but at a (noticeably?) lower quality
  - sp332 10y ago
    The area around the White House is intentionally pixelated. Israel does not allow detailed maps in certain places - GPS navigation devices don't work there.
    - j1vms 10y ago
      > The area around the White House is intentionally pixelated. Not for the Russian "Google Earth" counterpart, it ain't. ;)
6stringmerc 10y ago
Having seen plenty of high quality aviation maps in my day, which are quite incredible in the grand scheme of things, I've got some disappointing news about Area 51...
Razengan 10y ago
I'm mostly waiting for VR "tours" of completely fictional places, from popular fantasy/sci-fi settings, stories and art: https://medium.com/@Razengan/virtual-reality-fantasy-tourism-a27fcfc5e433 https://medium.com/@Razengan/virtual-reality-fantasy-tourism...

RileyJames 10y ago

You can go to Tehran & North Korea, just need to apply for a visa.

strictnein 10y ago
> "You can go to Tehran & North Korea" Leaving, on the other hand... https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/iran-travel-warning.html https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings... https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/north-korea-travel-warning.html https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings...
- saiya-jin 10y ago
  just don't have US/Israel passport or visa stamp from there, and Iran will be one of best experiences in your life. people are amazing, culture is just WOW, whole place feels ancient even to europeans (and it is...). it is properly exotic in some parts in a way that will soon be only a thing of the past for most 'exotic' places on the earth, that look more and more like a standard copy&paste westernized locations. most people speak OK english, very welcoming and friendly. don't trust some crap propaganda.

derrickdirge 10y ago

I thought Mecca was like, the opposite of a forbidden place.

strictnein 10y ago
Mecca, Saudi Arabia is slightly different, of course.
aianus 10y ago
It's forbidden to go within 15km of Mecca if you're not Muslim.
- 13of40 10y ago
  You need a certificate signed by an Imam, which you can likely get at your local Islamic center. Challenges include convincing the Imam that you're not just getting it to sneak into Mecca, and being able to answer follow-up questions at the roadblock in Mecca, such as, "So you're Muslim, eh? Tell us the Five Pillars."
  - flukus 10y ago
    Normal, throw, boomerang, blow up and...

amenod 10y ago

I very much doubt these places will allow virtual visitors if they forbid real ones. That is, I doubt Google will be allowed to drive through North Korea with their cars. :)

jpreiland 10y ago
would satellite imagery be sufficient?
- mememachine 10y ago
  I would guess that it will still work but at a (noticeably?) lower quality
- sp332 10y ago
  The area around the White House is intentionally pixelated. Israel does not allow detailed maps in certain places - GPS navigation devices don't work there.
  - j1vms 10y ago
    > The area around the White House is intentionally pixelated. Not for the Russian "Google Earth" counterpart, it ain't. ;)

6stringmerc 10y ago

Having seen plenty of high quality aviation maps in my day, which are quite incredible in the grand scheme of things, I've got some disappointing news about Area 51...

Razengan 10y ago

I'm mostly waiting for VR "tours" of completely fictional places, from popular fantasy/sci-fi settings, stories and art: https://medium.com/@Razengan/virtual-reality-fantasy-tourism-a27fcfc5e433 https://medium.com/@Razengan/virtual-reality-fantasy-tourism...