Thanks for watching! We know this is a sensitive and complex topic, and we definitely don’t have it all figured out. We’re still learning and trying to find the right balance in our travels. We’d love to hear your thoughts, how do you navigate these challenges? Read you below in the comments 👇
Such a journey leads to many reflections and not all of them can really be shared in a video! On your long journeys, you directly encounter the existential problems - the enormous social contrasts - of our civilization, which seems to have reached an end point. But even if it is good that you formulate them, this reflection must inevitably remain on the surface, because the real unspoken question is the meaning of such a journey. And I think you feel this very clearly, because you have been on the road for a long time! I believe that this is a major difference to “normal” tourism, which quickly jumps in somewhere and then rushes off to other spots, often avoiding reflection. It is the duration of your trip alone (especially with its very spartan guidelines) that forces you to reflect, which must lead to a contrast with mass tourism. And that is also a privilege, because it can have consequences. 😇 “The journey is the reward”, some people declaim - and have unfortunately often ended up in the clichés they actually wanted to break out of. 😏 Good luck to you! Roger-T.
good episode enjoyed. yes sensitive/complex topic, I do not see your adventure as having overly negative impacts, and you express consciousness about it. I'm enjoying the ride and the views
We strive to minimize our impact, but we don't want to hide or justify it in the name of "exploration" and "adventure". Thank you so much for your comment!!
I think keeping an old Landy going causes fewer harmful emissions than the process of manufacturing a new vehicle, so you're fine. The Atacama reminds me of parts of Outback Australia.
I think also that driving a perfectly functions car is better than buying a new one. But when we put things is perspective,there are better ways to travel sustainably. I know we should not get over fixated on this, but we want to be clear that driving around the world like we do is a personal dream and that of course has an impact to drive over 85000km for pleasure.
Henry, desolation is always breathtaking due to how dangerous it is. With our Landy we have the privilege of seeing it and surviving it. Every remote desert can give you this feeling, the Altiplano has the added feature of being above 4000m, making the breathtaking part to another level 😅
I believe that many Overlanders are environmentally conscious. Actually, I might argue that they are one of the best groups of people to take care of the land. They don’t want to lose what they have the freedom to explore. In many areas of the world where I have been, the vast array of tracks were created by locals in little Hilux trucks carrying a livestock animal in a crate. Sometimes the locals do not care as much about their land as the tourists that visit it so. Some of you know what I am talking about. We would find garbage left by locals and clean it up. One person can counter the negative impact of several others. So, with three of you in your vehicle together, you can make a good positive impact. Please don’t take this wrong, but don’t explore everything bellyaching over everything you see wrong. Just do your best to improve where you have been, graciously teach others how to leave a smaller footprint, and enjoy this beautiful earth that God has given to us to steward. Just think of the many people who are watching this video and how you have impacted their thought processes. If you do this with grace, you may win some, but if it’s all sour, you will lose many. Thanks for your great videos! Be Safe wherever you are.
I love your comment so much! You have a beautiful way of explaining a very complex topic. Amazing. Yes, sometimes locals are the ones that don't see the damage, most often than not because they don't know any better (this happens to all humans, around the world btw). Yes, keeping the positive note should be our goal, but it is sometimes so damn difficult after seeing some really discouraging behaviors. Luckily once in a while we see amazing gestures and practices, like the one mentioned in Perito Moreno NP. I hope those who watch, can at least get one or two ideas of how is it to travel this way. We try to keep it transparent, and getting discouraged about how we treat our planet, after nearly two years on the road, is our reality. I wish I could say all is good, the planet is all beautiful, humans are like angels everywhere. Most probably people that come to UA-cam want to hear that, after all there is so much negativity in the real life, the last thing one wants is to hear it from somebody that is living "the Life". But now, I'm getting to deep into the topic 😅 when what I really want is to thank you for your comment and yes, overlanders are some of the most responsible travelers out there! 🤗🤗🤗
We are in Peru in our van and hardly see any other overlanders. It seems rather self indulgent to go to all the effort of undertaking a long journey by vehicle and then sit around wringing your hands about it even as you make a video to show off your journey to others. We are privileged to enjoy life on the road, tell an honest story about the good and the bad but for heavens sake don’t think that what you are doing is making any great difference in a badly messed up world. Enjoy your life. Cheers from an old man in a van in Caraz.
Hey! Enjoy Peru! What you're seeing is exactly what contradictions are all about and we all have them. We're sharing our journey to incredible places, experiencing and living in nature, and doing it all in a minimalist way(in our mind, other might disagree). We chose this travel lifestyle, and if we had to start over, we'd choose it again. It's a privilege to live on the road, seeing the world in such an intimate way and connecting with different cultures. But as time goes on, we can't help but question how responsible our way of traveling really is. That's why I talk about the dilemma in the video. What I hope to inspire in others is not to just accept "it is what it is,"or be perfect, but to explore how things could be done better. 🤗Thank you for your comment!!
Aw another great video from the crew of the blue landy . Always a joy to see and enjoy your videos . Cheers you all from Steve Stott in Sutherlin Oregon U.S.A. :):). :) 🌎🍻👍🏼😁. P.S. in all are travels around the world we have found it to be the local tripe’s people in there hi Lucs and motor bikes that do the most damage as they are trying to get to there grazing lands and roaming herds of life stock . BUT it is the tourist that get blamed the most yet we are the ones most likely to travel responsibly . And clean up after others . But you also had great points to your video . That’s why I like your alls videos , you care about both the people and places you travel to . Cheers 👍🏼
Hey Steve! Thank you for your comment! Yes, sometimes locals are doing more damage than tourists. Sometimes having tourists makes locals do more harm. Sometimes tourists do the harm. I guess it's all a matter of working on raising awareness. I think as well, Overlanders are sometimes the ones to be more aware, as they have seen more, and can compare practices. And we hope the video inspired some to think about how they travel 🙌
Thanks as always for the amazing content. I think this was some of your finest work yet. Such great work capturing the stark, foreboding beauty and vastness of this landscape. Reminds me of some of my travels through the Great Basin of the united states, but at twice the scale.
Thank you so much for watching and leaving a comment! The Altiplano never disappoints! One of the things that makes this place even more incredible, is the altitude. Not only you get breathless with the scenery,but also because of a lack of oxygen, making the experience even more memorable 😉
I think you're travelling in a responsible way. You cannot compare this to mass tourism, where thousands of tourist fly in to see the same spots from the same angles, after which they are ready to fly to the next destination. You are travelling to try to understand the world, to understand your presence in it, and enjoy it.
This is what we try at least, yes! For sure our way of traveling is slower and we have more chance to think about this topics. But taking in consideration that we are sharing our experience in this platform, we want to be honest on what our impact is and inspire others to be conscious as well when they book their next trip. All of us, doing a little bit better in our trips goes a looooong way. Thank you for your comment!! 🤗
Thank you! Are you sure about Kai? I think it makes his gray hair look beautiful! But I think I'm the one that needs to like it, the other way around would be more concerning! 😉
In 1994, 30 years ago, we took a 3 day round trip from Uyuni (Boliva) to this area in a packed 60 series Landcruiser with 8 tourist and a local driver/guide. I remember there where no real roads, only vaguely defined tracks. No one did this trip in their own vehicle it seems and there was not much regular traffic either. Not seen another vehicle in three days after leaving Uyuni.. Things have changed a little bit it seems. The beauty of the area is still the same though.We spent a night with locals close to the bother with Chili but cooked our own food. Saw the milky way in all its glory that night for the first time 🙂. No park fees. No safety warnings around the geothermic areas too.
Wow, this sounds incredible! Times have changed for sure. Uyuni and the Altiplano are a money making machine. This is the reason why the town of Uyuni has experience such an increase in population and now many, many families live entirely from international tourism. I have no idea where this is going, but I hope Bolivia and the locals figure out a way to keep this level of traffic sustainable. We are pretty sensitive to this, meaning , there might be some time before it gets out of whack entirely. On the positive note, this area even though is experiencing an exponential number of tourists, keeps infrastructure rather simple, and I am happy to report that the stargazing is still OUT OF THIS WORLD!
I guess the problem is that we all want to see the wonders of the world, so inevitably more and more people will find their way to places that were once considered isolated and pristine.
Yes! That's why we want to get the message out, that doing this has also consequences. And that limiting and controlling is sometimes the best way to preserve the beauty for everybody to enjoy. But the balance is pretty difficult to obtain...
Really good one! I liked your comparing the different areas Big question...:)...how in the he'll do you deal with dust inside the Landy, from patagonia winds to the northern desert winds? On a moto with a tent, I only deal with it when stationary and use baby wipes, but yours is on a totally different level. Thanks and keep it up!
We are full of contradictions, all the time. And the important thing is, to don't forget it. Don't try to be perfect, but don't freeze and stop take action at all. Ohh the sand, the dust. We are constantly brushing the inside of the car. And when we clean our clothes the water turns brown even after a second rinse. So, we try to keep it at bay, but live with the fact, some of it, it's there to stay until the day the car arrives back in Germany 😅
I’m quite sure that if you buy an used Defender it has a lower impact than many new cars. Understand that you talk also of the trails, but plastic and waste is much worst. The way I do it, every time I get to a place I try to clean at least with a full bag of waste. It’s my way to contribute to leave a better place.
I love your comment. Yes, using and repairing a car is way more sustainable than buying a new car. Specially when you don't need it. For us, driving some paths means disrupting the local fauna and flora. Yes, pollution is sadly a usual occurrence wherever we go, and we always try to leave the place better than we found it. We have seen always many travelers picking up rubbish from others, but we have seen also people throwing stuff in front of us without any shame. 😭
I think many of your closing comments are quite unfair and also factually incorrect. My wife and I were fortunate to self-drive through these very same areas in Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia in June & July 2023. But not everyone can afford to leave work, family, and home behind and spend months and years on the road in their own vehicles. Championing against the service providers, access opportunities, and "the Landcruisers" that allow people with less time to explore and experience these magnificent places is a very elitist opinion. Not everyone is flexible enough, brave enough, or experienced enough to enjoy the immense beauty of the region on their own without the support of drivers and guides. I agree that the distribution of income generated should be better coordinated, but that's true not only in the Southwest of Bolivia. We happened to be in Jujuy at the time of the roadblocks last year when the Indigenous communities protested against the lithium mines damaging the environment and taking all the profits without benefiting the local communities. Saying that things in the Puna and on the Chilean side of the border are better is quite misleading.
You’re absolutely right that not everyone can take off for months or afford their own vehicle, which is why I mentioned in the video that it’s a privilege to do so. I didn’t mean to downplay the role of service providers who make these incredible places accessible to more people. I see how my comments could come off as elitist, and that was not my intention. My goal was to start a discussion about balancing the enjoyment of these beautiful places with the impact our presence has, whether we’re traveling independently or with a guide. I completely agree with you that these issues aren’t limited to one area. There’s a lot of work to be done globally to ensure that tourism benefits local communities and protects the environment. In La Puna, we didn’t experience the full context as we only saw the mines, so we didn't touch on that in the videos. I understand that my lack of comments might have seemed like things are better in the other side of the border. And that can be misleading for those who don't have any context.🙌 For that I would like to thank you, comments like yours are what motivates me to keep on talking about these topics. I dont have things figure out and I believe exchanging our viewpoints is the best way to do things better. So, Thank you!! 🤗
Hey Kai and Irati, Unfortunately traveling to least explored places is a double edged sword and you use.exactly the same kind of transportation you think tourists are using to visit there😀 Land Rover or Land Cruiser, it makes no difference. A few thousand people from North America set out to do the Pan American highway and they all invariably end up where you went and looking for the same thing… the path least traveled. So not much point wondering about it and the good news is, only a small percentage of people drive there and the rest of the tourists who fly there to visit never make it or seldom make it to the altiplano.
It is a indeed! One topic I personally struggle to live with and search for balance constantly...regarding the Land Cruiser/Land Rover,the comment was not about the brand at all, they are the same, heavy 4x4s. It's more about where do you take them...ouh yeah, we know that the every corner on this planet has been checked by others, that's why we always cringe with those that state they go for "Expeditions". Nope, that's not what it is. And I guess, you are right, we are still grateful to be able to still have the chance to get to some places that are a bit emptier than others. Thank you for your comment!! 🤗
@@Thebluelandy Actually my comment was misconstrued about the brand of vehicles. My point was, whether you traveled there independently by yourself or tourists who come there want to visit the same places because they are lesser explored places, there is not much difference. I have driven through most of the places you are driving through during my Pan American trip I took from Alaska all the way down. There are a small number of people who drive on the Pan American highway every year from America to travel and see the places less seen and places you can’t go unless you have the time and the right kind of vehicle at your disposal. So invariably, you are going to run into other people and that doesn’t make them all that touristy. And ultimately, you and me are guilty of the same thing we complain about because we went there independently and that doesn’t make us different than other people who pay for the Landcruisers to drive them there. I do enjoy watching your videos and if I get another chance to go on the PAH in my lifetime, I’ll take note of places I might have missed the first time around 😀 I missed driving up north in Chile and I mostly drove thru the Patagonia side of Chile further down South. Maybe another trip is warranted some time down the road. I went West after getting to Ushuaia and drove around in Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay and I actually wanted to drive up North to Guyana and Suriname but never gotten around to it. We are planning to drive the Central Asia route sometime next year from UK to either India or if we can get past Myanmar, probably Singapore.
nunja, Massentourismus findet man in Mallorca...Auf Euern entdecke ich keine tausenden Touristen. Und man kann es ja auch unterlassen mit einem qualmenden Landy dorther zu fahren, nicht wahr ?! Ein Touri-Auto weniger. Und was Energiegewinnung aus Wüsten betrifft ist das gut kontrollierbar und technisch geregelt. Von der Lithium-Gewinnung in Bolivien mal abgesehen... Aber weiter gute und eindrucksvolle Fahrten !👍🏻
Ja, es gibt keinen Touristenverkehr wie auf Mallorca, und ich denke, sie haben noch die Chance, es besser zu machen, deshalb machen wir diese Bemerkung bevor es weiter zerstört wird...Was Lithium in Bolivien und anderen Ländern wie Argentinien betrifft, so sind sie leider das Ende der Kette des Massenkonsums... Aber das ist ein Thema für ein anderes Mal... Vielen Dank für deinen Kommentar!🤗
Thanks for watching! We know this is a sensitive and complex topic, and we definitely don’t have it all figured out. We’re still learning and trying to find the right balance in our travels. We’d love to hear your thoughts, how do you navigate these challenges? Read you below in the comments 👇
Such a journey leads to many reflections and not all of them can really be shared in a video!
On your long journeys, you directly encounter the existential problems - the enormous social contrasts - of our civilization, which seems to have reached an end point. But even if it is good that you formulate them, this reflection must inevitably remain on the surface, because the real unspoken question is the meaning of such a journey. And I think you feel this very clearly, because you have been on the road for a long time!
I believe that this is a major difference to “normal” tourism, which quickly jumps in somewhere and then rushes off to other spots, often avoiding reflection. It is the duration of your trip alone (especially with its very spartan guidelines) that forces you to reflect, which must lead to a contrast with mass tourism.
And that is also a privilege, because it can have consequences. 😇
“The journey is the reward”, some people declaim - and have unfortunately often ended up in the clichés they actually wanted to break out of. 😏
Good luck to you!
Roger-T.
Enjoyable watch as always guys. Thanks for sharing
Happy to share, as always! Thanks for watching 🤗
good episode enjoyed. yes sensitive/complex topic, I do not see your adventure as having overly negative impacts, and you express consciousness about it. I'm enjoying the ride and the views
We strive to minimize our impact, but we don't want to hide or justify it in the name of "exploration" and "adventure". Thank you so much for your comment!!
Is like in in NAMIBIA 🇳🇦 adventures BLUE LANDY ADVENTURES, LAND ROVER 👍TWAHLUMBHA TOO BLUE LANDY ADVENTURES 👌
🤗🤗
I think keeping an old Landy going causes fewer harmful emissions than the process of manufacturing a new vehicle, so you're fine.
The Atacama reminds me of parts of Outback Australia.
There is an Australian saying that the aim should be to 'leave no trace' of your presence. You seem to be doing that.
I think also that driving a perfectly functions car is better than buying a new one. But when we put things is perspective,there are better ways to travel sustainably. I know we should not get over fixated on this, but we want to be clear that driving around the world like we do is a personal dream and that of course has an impact to drive over 85000km for pleasure.
We always try to!
Very scenic and most interesting. Desolation can be very beautiful also .. .. .. most of the time. Go well.
Henry, desolation is always breathtaking due to how dangerous it is. With our Landy we have the privilege of seeing it and surviving it. Every remote desert can give you this feeling, the Altiplano has the added feature of being above 4000m, making the breathtaking part to another level 😅
I believe that many Overlanders are environmentally conscious. Actually, I might argue that they are one of the best groups of people to take care of the land. They don’t want to lose what they have the freedom to explore. In many areas of the world where I have been, the vast array of tracks were created by locals in little Hilux trucks carrying a livestock animal in a crate. Sometimes the locals do not care as much about their land as the tourists that visit it so. Some of you know what I am talking about. We would find garbage left by locals and clean it up.
One person can counter the negative impact of several others. So, with three of you in your vehicle together, you can make a good positive impact. Please don’t take this wrong, but don’t explore everything bellyaching over everything you see wrong. Just do your best to improve where you have been, graciously teach others how to leave a smaller footprint, and enjoy this beautiful earth that God has given to us to steward. Just think of the many people who are watching this video and how you have impacted their thought processes. If you do this with grace, you may win some, but if it’s all sour, you will lose many.
Thanks for your great videos! Be Safe wherever you are.
I love your comment so much! You have a beautiful way of explaining a very complex topic. Amazing.
Yes, sometimes locals are the ones that don't see the damage, most often than not because they don't know any better (this happens to all humans, around the world btw).
Yes, keeping the positive note should be our goal, but it is sometimes so damn difficult after seeing some really discouraging behaviors. Luckily once in a while we see amazing gestures and practices, like the one mentioned in Perito Moreno NP.
I hope those who watch, can at least get one or two ideas of how is it to travel this way. We try to keep it transparent, and getting discouraged about how we treat our planet, after nearly two years on the road, is our reality. I wish I could say all is good, the planet is all beautiful, humans are like angels everywhere. Most probably people that come to UA-cam want to hear that, after all there is so much negativity in the real life, the last thing one wants is to hear it from somebody that is living "the Life".
But now, I'm getting to deep into the topic 😅 when what I really want is to thank you for your comment and yes, overlanders are some of the most responsible travelers out there! 🤗🤗🤗
ola meus amigos linda paisagem VIVA A VIDA abraço
😎🙌
Also found flamingo birds, in in 🇵🇪, comes from AFRICA, FLAMINGO BIRDS, NATURES BEAUTY 👍
One can find flamingos in many countries around the world, they are beautiful 😍
We are in Peru in our van and hardly see any other overlanders. It seems rather self indulgent to go to all the effort of undertaking a long journey by vehicle and then sit around wringing your hands about it even as you make a video to show off your journey to others. We are privileged to enjoy life on the road, tell an honest story about the good and the bad but for heavens sake don’t think that what you are doing is making any great difference in a badly messed up world. Enjoy your life. Cheers from an old man in a van in Caraz.
Hey! Enjoy Peru! What you're seeing is exactly what contradictions are all about and we all have them. We're sharing our journey to incredible places, experiencing and living in nature, and doing it all in a minimalist way(in our mind, other might disagree). We chose this travel lifestyle, and if we had to start over, we'd choose it again. It's a privilege to live on the road, seeing the world in such an intimate way and connecting with different cultures. But as time goes on, we can't help but question how responsible our way of traveling really is. That's why I talk about the dilemma in the video. What I hope to inspire in others is not to just accept "it is what it is,"or be perfect, but to explore how things could be done better. 🤗Thank you for your comment!!
Otro! Wooohoo Lovely. I’ll watch it tomorrow. Right now we are having a cold one. Kai, here is one for you guys. 🍺
Nice!!! Cheers 🍻
Aw another great video from the crew of the blue landy . Always a joy to see and enjoy your videos . Cheers you all from Steve Stott in Sutherlin Oregon U.S.A. :):). :) 🌎🍻👍🏼😁. P.S. in all are travels around the world we have found it to be the local tripe’s people in there hi Lucs and motor bikes that do the most damage as they are trying to get to there grazing lands and roaming herds of life stock . BUT it is the tourist that get blamed the most yet we are the ones most likely to travel responsibly . And clean up after others . But you also had great points to your video . That’s why I like your alls videos , you care about both the people and places you travel to . Cheers 👍🏼
Hey Steve! Thank you for your comment! Yes, sometimes locals are doing more damage than tourists. Sometimes having tourists makes locals do more harm. Sometimes tourists do the harm. I guess it's all a matter of working on raising awareness. I think as well, Overlanders are sometimes the ones to be more aware, as they have seen more, and can compare practices. And we hope the video inspired some to think about how they travel 🙌
@@Thebluelandy . 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🍻😁
Thank you for the honest experience
Happy to share our unpopular opinions 😅
Thanks as always for the amazing content. I think this was some of your finest work yet. Such great work capturing the stark, foreboding beauty and vastness of this landscape. Reminds me of some of my travels through the Great Basin of the united states, but at twice the scale.
Thank you so much for watching and leaving a comment! The Altiplano never disappoints! One of the things that makes this place even more incredible, is the altitude. Not only you get breathless with the scenery,but also because of a lack of oxygen, making the experience even more memorable 😉
ola meus amigos lindas imagens estamos juntos nesta jornada abraço
I think you're travelling in a responsible way. You cannot compare this to mass tourism, where thousands of tourist fly in to see the same spots from the same angles, after which they are ready to fly to the next destination. You are travelling to try to understand the world, to understand your presence in it, and enjoy it.
This is what we try at least, yes! For sure our way of traveling is slower and we have more chance to think about this topics. But taking in consideration that we are sharing our experience in this platform, we want to be honest on what our impact is and inspire others to be conscious as well when they book their next trip. All of us, doing a little bit better in our trips goes a looooong way. Thank you for your comment!! 🤗
❤👋🏻🤠🇫🇮
Wonderful adventure. You got a lovely haircut not so much Kai 😅
Thank you! Are you sure about Kai? I think it makes his gray hair look beautiful! But I think I'm the one that needs to like it, the other way around would be more concerning! 😉
👉'🇵🇪 'have tourism attractions, hills, mountain ⛰, areas, must be very chilly weather, in in PERU 🇵🇪, 👉BLUE LANDY ADVENTURES 👉TWAHLUMBHA
This was the Bolivian Altiplano. And yes, chilly weather and headaches due to high altitude.
In 1994, 30 years ago, we took a 3 day round trip from Uyuni (Boliva) to this area in a packed 60 series Landcruiser with 8 tourist and a local driver/guide. I remember there where no real roads, only vaguely defined tracks. No one did this trip in their own vehicle it seems and there was not much regular traffic either. Not seen another vehicle in three days after leaving Uyuni.. Things have changed a little bit it seems. The beauty of the area is still the same though.We spent a night with locals close to the bother with Chili but cooked our own food. Saw the milky way in all its glory that night for the first time 🙂. No park fees. No safety warnings around the geothermic areas too.
Wow, this sounds incredible! Times have changed for sure. Uyuni and the Altiplano are a money making machine. This is the reason why the town of Uyuni has experience such an increase in population and now many, many families live entirely from international tourism. I have no idea where this is going, but I hope Bolivia and the locals figure out a way to keep this level of traffic sustainable. We are pretty sensitive to this, meaning , there might be some time before it gets out of whack entirely.
On the positive note, this area even though is experiencing an exponential number of tourists, keeps infrastructure rather simple, and I am happy to report that the stargazing is still OUT OF THIS WORLD!
I guess the problem is that we all want to see the wonders of the world, so inevitably more and more people will find their way to places that were once considered isolated and pristine.
Yes! That's why we want to get the message out, that doing this has also consequences. And that limiting and controlling is sometimes the best way to preserve the beauty for everybody to enjoy. But the balance is pretty difficult to obtain...
Really good one!
I liked your comparing the different areas
Big question...:)...how in the he'll do you deal with dust inside the Landy, from patagonia winds to the northern desert winds?
On a moto with a tent, I only deal with it when stationary and use baby wipes, but yours is on a totally different level.
Thanks and keep it up!
We are full of contradictions, all the time. And the important thing is, to don't forget it. Don't try to be perfect, but don't freeze and stop take action at all.
Ohh the sand, the dust. We are constantly brushing the inside of the car. And when we clean our clothes the water turns brown even after a second rinse. So, we try to keep it at bay, but live with the fact, some of it, it's there to stay until the day the car arrives back in Germany 😅
I’m quite sure that if you buy an used Defender it has a lower impact than many new cars. Understand that you talk also of the trails, but plastic and waste is much worst. The way I do it, every time I get to a place I try to clean at least with a full bag of waste. It’s my way to contribute to leave a better place.
I love your comment. Yes, using and repairing a car is way more sustainable than buying a new car. Specially when you don't need it. For us, driving some paths means disrupting the local fauna and flora. Yes, pollution is sadly a usual occurrence wherever we go, and we always try to leave the place better than we found it. We have seen always many travelers picking up rubbish from others, but we have seen also people throwing stuff in front of us without any shame. 😭
I think many of your closing comments are quite unfair and also factually incorrect. My wife and I were fortunate to self-drive through these very same areas in Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia in June & July 2023. But not everyone can afford to leave work, family, and home behind and spend months and years on the road in their own vehicles. Championing against the service providers, access opportunities, and "the Landcruisers" that allow people with less time to explore and experience these magnificent places is a very elitist opinion. Not everyone is flexible enough, brave enough, or experienced enough to enjoy the immense beauty of the region on their own without the support of drivers and guides. I agree that the distribution of income generated should be better coordinated, but that's true not only in the Southwest of Bolivia. We happened to be in Jujuy at the time of the roadblocks last year when the Indigenous communities protested against the lithium mines damaging the environment and taking all the profits without benefiting the local communities. Saying that things in the Puna and on the Chilean side of the border are better is quite misleading.
You’re absolutely right that not everyone can take off for months or afford their own vehicle, which is why I mentioned in the video that it’s a privilege to do so. I didn’t mean to downplay the role of service providers who make these incredible places accessible to more people. I see how my comments could come off as elitist, and that was not my intention. My goal was to start a discussion about balancing the enjoyment of these beautiful places with the impact our presence has, whether we’re traveling independently or with a guide.
I completely agree with you that these issues aren’t limited to one area. There’s a lot of work to be done globally to ensure that tourism benefits local communities and protects the environment.
In La Puna, we didn’t experience the full context as we only saw the mines, so we didn't touch on that in the videos. I understand that my lack of comments might have seemed like things are better in the other side of the border. And that can be misleading for those who don't have any context.🙌
For that I would like to thank you, comments like yours are what motivates me to keep on talking about these topics. I dont have things figure out and I believe exchanging our viewpoints is the best way to do things better. So, Thank you!! 🤗
Hey Kai and Irati, Unfortunately traveling to least explored places is a double edged sword and you use.exactly the same kind of transportation you think tourists are using to visit there😀 Land Rover or Land Cruiser, it makes no difference.
A few thousand people from North America set out to do the Pan American highway and they all invariably end up where you went and looking for the same thing… the path least traveled.
So not much point wondering about it and the good news is, only a small percentage of people drive there and the rest of the tourists who fly there to visit never make it or seldom make it to the altiplano.
It is a indeed! One topic I personally struggle to live with and search for balance constantly...regarding the Land Cruiser/Land Rover,the comment was not about the brand at all, they are the same, heavy 4x4s. It's more about where do you take them...ouh yeah, we know that the every corner on this planet has been checked by others, that's why we always cringe with those that state they go for "Expeditions". Nope, that's not what it is. And I guess, you are right, we are still grateful to be able to still have the chance to get to some places that are a bit emptier than others. Thank you for your comment!! 🤗
@@Thebluelandy Actually my comment was misconstrued about the brand of vehicles. My point was, whether you traveled there independently by yourself or tourists who come there want to visit the same places because they are lesser explored places, there is not much difference.
I have driven through most of the places you are driving through during my Pan American trip I took from Alaska all the way down. There are a small number of people who drive on the Pan American highway every year from America to travel and see the places less seen and places you can’t go unless you have the time and the right kind of vehicle at your disposal. So invariably, you are going to run into other people and that doesn’t make them all that touristy. And ultimately, you and me are guilty of the same thing we complain about because we went there independently and that doesn’t make us different than other people who pay for the Landcruisers to drive them there.
I do enjoy watching your videos and if I get another chance to go on the PAH in my lifetime, I’ll take note of places I might have missed the first time around 😀 I missed driving up north in Chile and I mostly drove thru the Patagonia side of Chile further down South. Maybe another trip is warranted some time down the road. I went West after getting to Ushuaia and drove around in Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay and I actually wanted to drive up North to Guyana and Suriname but never gotten around to it.
We are planning to drive the Central Asia route sometime next year from UK to either India or if we can get past Myanmar, probably Singapore.
nunja, Massentourismus findet man in Mallorca...Auf Euern entdecke ich keine tausenden Touristen. Und man kann es ja auch unterlassen mit einem qualmenden Landy dorther zu fahren, nicht wahr ?! Ein Touri-Auto weniger.
Und was Energiegewinnung aus Wüsten betrifft ist das gut kontrollierbar und technisch geregelt. Von der Lithium-Gewinnung in Bolivien mal abgesehen...
Aber weiter gute und eindrucksvolle Fahrten !👍🏻
Ja, es gibt keinen Touristenverkehr wie auf Mallorca, und ich denke, sie haben noch die Chance, es besser zu machen, deshalb machen wir diese Bemerkung bevor es weiter zerstört wird...Was Lithium in Bolivien und anderen Ländern wie Argentinien betrifft, so sind sie leider das Ende der Kette des Massenkonsums... Aber das ist ein Thema für ein anderes Mal... Vielen Dank für deinen Kommentar!🤗