How to Have a Great Experience
Spectrum of Experiences(TM)
Training Lines and Your Skill Development
Out in the Real World
We are all Tourists Sometime
Making the Most of Photo Opps
Travelling with the Mind of a Child
Tips to do the Big City
1. How to Have A Great Experience (optional feature)
If you are going on an adventure big or small, you are going to need a skill set to accompany your equipment and common sense. Upon request (email us), we can provide you with a suggested list of skills needed for each TreasureMap®. With a special system we attempt to generalize the amount of skills necessary for that particular TMAP by using a mechanism called the "SkillSpot". We can send you special TMAPS, where on the lower right hand corner of the TreasureMap® is a small symbol that looks like this.
We rate the adventures taking into account the amount of training an average adult would need to participate in this little adventure, coupled with an estimated intensity of experience. So a "cool" experience like Massage would have a SkillSpot that looks like this. And a "hot" experience like Performance Sailing would have a SkillSpot that looks like this. As you can see, the "hotter" the adventure, the more you have to learn. These are just estimates from non-experts. You have to consult experts in each field to really get a handle on how much training you'll need, ok?
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2. The Spectrum of Experiences(TM)
There is a spectrum of adventure experiences, from "cool" adventures like yoga and massage, to "hot" adventure experiences like flying, skydiving, and bungee jumping. As a general rule, the hotter the experience, the more adrenalin because of physical risks. The cooler the experience the more alpha waves in the brain. We like both kinds.
Here's a checklist for all you attainers. The Spectrum of Experiences(TM).
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3. Get on a Training Line
Risks are real in all experiences in life. In general the "hotter" the adventure experience, the more skills are needed to attempt minimizing risks. It would be pretty dumb to attempt cave diving without a lot of specific instruction. Get the skills you need so you at least attempt to minimize getting hurt or killed. The most impressive high adventure guides we have ever met were also the most humble. They may know something that you don't. Funny, but the most impressive "cool" adventure guides we have ever met were also the most humble. Like yoga instructors. They may know something that you don't. You can get into a temporary "cooler" experience like massage for about $40 an hour.
Adventure intensity and skill development/training intersect. Here's a diagram for all you seekers. .
Some people should not go on adventure, even though they really want to. If you honestly can assess yourself and you know you have a short fuse, are easily frustrated in new situations, panic sometimes, or like to take shortcuts in learning, you should go on adventure first with a knowledgeable guide who you can learn from. We all started as novices in any given activity. Don't feel bad or inadequate. Even experts in particular fields are novices in other area of their life.
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4. Out in the Real World
Tips for enhancing outdoor experiences:
5. We are all Tourists Sometimes
Don't be a snob. If you eschew "touristy" places you'll never see Graceland. You may never even see
New York City. We are all tourists on our travels, whether we want to be or not. But doing it with class is all about respect. Respect local customs, respect the local people, do your homework, and never, never cop a superiority attitude like an "ugly American". Dress like the locals do. Don't try to stand out. Travel light. Walk gently on the earth and your rewards in authentic experience will be huge. PS, a small camera tucked away in a pocket is much better than that 35mm hanging from a strap around your neck anyways.
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6. Making the Most of Photo Opps
Which brings us to photography. If you must take a camera on adventure take a lightweight one. Take lots of film, like twice what you thought you'd need. Don't forsake valuable weight and space resources with a large camera bag. You'll need other more important equipment first.
Advances in digital cameras have made them a leading alternative to film cameras and expensive film processing. And you can do lots of cool stuff to the shots in PhotoShop and PaintShop Pro. They are subject to damage by moisture and shock, though.
If you want tips on photography here are some links to excellent pages:
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7. Travelling with the Mind of a Child
Kids have 20 minute attention spans. Max. That's three things to do an hour. If you are going out with kids for eight hours you'll need like 24 things to do. Get planning.
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