Richard Bangs, often called the "father of modern adventure travel", shares his special moments, favourite spots and destinations he has visited in his 30 years as an explorer.
Richard Bangs hiking on ice in New Zealand
Describe a place to get a great cup of coffee. What's cool about it?
Room service in a great hotel. They bring a full pot, and you can sip and read and whatever to heart’s content.
Describe a time of day, a spot to sit, and a view that will break your heart.
Just before dawn. It is all potential and hope; the bow of a boat (pictured left); the first nip of sunlight, as that is the end of the security and mystery and romance of darkness.
One neighbourhood venue, which gets people into the flow of your place.
The local bike shop. I is a collection of people on the move; people with adventure in common, and who have nicely defined leg muscles.
Describe a place that holds a strong memory for you when you first arrived.
I walked into Scott’s Seafood once with few expectations there was a piano player with liquid fingers who played and sang Ray Charles better than the original. I didn’t want to leave.
An unforgettable excursion.
Getting lost in the medina in Fez, Morocco. I may be there still.
A restaurant dripping with atmosphere.
The Carnivore in Nairobi, Kenya. Order the tofu and bean sprouts nine-grain sandwich and watch what happens to the atmosphere.
One of your favourite shops. Why?
Ex Officio. I wear nothing else, even the underwear!
A bar with attitude, and a drink to order there.
Giger Bar in Chur, Switzerland. He designed the monsters for the Aliens movie series, so you can imagine the atmosphere. Order the absinthe; it is recently legal so it might be called “Absinthe without malice.”
Where would you send someone to see a good gig or live show?
The Sing-Sing in Mt. Hagen, Papua New Guinea. There is no better live show on earth
One thing you'd change about the destination if you could.
Its horizon would roll back whenever you tried to leave…
Author’s Note:
Richard Bangs is a world adventurer, international river explorer, Web pioneer, and award winning author. Among his Web-based projects are Great Escapes (MSNBC), Well-Traveled (Slate.com), Mungo Park (Microsoft) and Terraquest (MTS). He is also founding partner of Mountain Travel Sobek, America's oldest and largest adventure travel firm.
Recently Richard Bangs was in New York, premiering the latest "Adventures with Purpose" programme at the Explorer's Club. View the interview video at About Richard Bangs
Also see Richard Bangs or Richard Bangs’ Adventures with Purpose
• Photos courtesy of “Richard Bangs’ Adventures with Purpose” website
