4 ms·
Having actually travelled there, a lot of authors assumptions are invalid in a way that reveals our (euro-american) biases. There are no roads, but people trave
by rembal 19d ago
Having actually travelled there, a lot of authors assumptions are invalid in a way that reveals our (euro-american) biases. There are no roads, but people travel by plane (both jets, our guide made a joke that there are two kinds of airlines in Papua, ones that crash into mountains and into the sea, or prop on grassy landing strips, you can look up videos from visiting remote villages, those pilots are super skilled) and on the coast - by boat.
Smartphones, solar panels, FC Barcelona t-shirts and catholic church made their way into the mountains and jungle before any other sort of infrastructure, and so did the tourists and fake attractions: fake cannibals, fake legends and fake customs (even BBC fell for some). Demand gives birth to supply.
One super interesting thing the author does not mention is that Papua is the last stand for betel nut chewing: you can try it if you're into light psychedelics. I can also shill my video essay here of anybody is interested in listening to pseudophilosophical/journey journal ramblings in heavy accent: https://youtu.be/0cCoZguizdg?is=o-5urE4E2GTolaDv https://youtu.be/0cCoZguizdg?is=o-5urE4E2GTolaDv
- hermitcrab 19d agoI read somewhere that the famous tall stilt houses were now mostly made to attract tourists.
- rembal 19d agoThat's true and that's what BBC fell for (korowai tribe in eastern Papua AFAIR).
- anon84873628 19d agoBetel nut chewing is still found lots of places in South and Southeast Asia.
- rembal 19d agoNot to that extent: it's against regulations in most cities from Singapore (obviously) to Saigon, and it's considered 'old people thing' in general. In Papua you see people with red teeth all the time, blood like stains on sidewalks accompanied by tiny zipper bags, which are very intriguing when you're out of context. I saw a mother giving betel to her 10 yo daughter on a boat ride - It is a bit calming, so...
- vishnugupta 19d agoIt is very pervasive in certain parts of India. Google Pan Masala India.
- thenthenthen 19d agoThe streets are littered with beetlenut in Shenzhen, especially Huaqiangbei. Also Chunking Mansion, HK (take the stairs). Would not recommend if you have elevated blood pressure.