What are the last Genuine / Authentic Experiences?

**olllllo** · 12-26-2007, 05:56 PM

Globalization and multinational corporations, the internet and supply chain management, homegeneity of goods and services, bring the world cheaper and higher quality goods overall, but often the experice is superficial, diluted and bereft of any local flavor or regionality.

A perhaps apochrophal example of this is Szechuan cuisine. Prior to the 1970's, Chinese food in the United States was synonomous with Cantonese. The only authentic means to have Szechuan food prepared for you was to somehow go to China or know someone that was from that region. It is reported that Nixon's détente with China exposed journalists to spicy Szechuan food and it is a style that is now everywhere (albeit, often executed in a diluted/mass-market format... McSzechuan Chicken salad).

You can buy Chimay in grocery stores.
You can get Porugese cheeses in specialty stores.
Many brewpubs are franchises.
Even vacations in exotic locations are somewhat sanitized. You can name 100's of beach vacations that are virtually identical because the hotels are the same and the staff speaks English. The local culture is Disneyed up to the point that you need a series of cab/bus rides to get to the "real" culture.

You can buy almost all of these items on the internet that usually required someone to schlep it back in their suitcase.

What are the last Genuine / Authentic Experiences?
In other words, what experiences do we take for granted and which ones have to be done in a certain time or place to be fully experienced?

The only caveat to this list is the obvious family and friends experieces that we all personally treasure.

Enjoying a Home Brew from a fellow brewer?
Running with the Bulls in Pamplona? (I know there is an event in the SW that tries to "replicate" this experience.)
Jumping into a pile of harvested hops?
Certain live sporting events?

Just looking for ideas on what to spend time and money on for the rest of my life.

Sir Humpsalot · 12-26-2007, 06:08 PM

Good thread, good thoughts. I agree these things are worth seeking out.

First, if you're a golfer, there are some golf courses that are hallowed ground. If you can afford it, play a few. I can't afford it and I'm not into golf enough to care, I'm just saying...

Second: You already mentioned sports, and that's a biggie. Remember, running with the bulls is a sporting tradition too (leading up to the bull fight). We just have different sports now, making the old ones seem like something else. And English Soccer games. The Indy 500. There's other races, but then there's the Indy 500. Paris-Dakar, Baja, Bonneville Salt Flats.

I hear that Miami is still a very flavorful city, with a lot of varied influences. Chicago, New York too. You can go there and find chinese people making chinese food for other chinese people, the way it is made at home. German places will cook for Germans. The greeks cook for greeks. You can get a real authentic meal, from a different nation, 7 days a week and never repeat a country. Ever go out for Dim Sum? Grab a few friends and enjoy. It's chinese breakfast, meant to be enjoyed as a group. Most things taste just like chinese food... except it's breakfast. Yum!!

There are little pockets of these traditions that are still strong, you just have to find them. You have to know where to look. And don't forget that the most memorable traditions all evolve over time. The best, most authentic, awesome experiences probably aren't really on the map yet. Remember Woodstock? Well it won't be repeated. Sometimes part of it is just being willing to put yourself in the right place at the right time...

**olllllo** · 12-26-2007, 06:28 PM

Thanks for the quick response Sir H. Don't golf, but I think you're on the right track. If I were a golfer, then St Andrews.

I'm not an auto racing fan, so for me, any auto race would be somewhat interchangable (and valued), but I certainly understand the gravity of Indy or other landmark races for race fans.

Also good point about one-time events.

I may have made this a little overly broad and overthunk the whole concept, but in the beer related vein....

Jamil stated on his Munich Helles show that there are no commercial examples of this style available in the US. You have to go to Munich to experience them.

Is this true? If so, it's list worthy IMO.

Sir Humpsalot · 12-26-2007, 06:32 PM

What about a fresh, peak of the season, strawberry wine? The flavor won't last long enough to ever be made into a decent commercial brew.

A lot of things like this are freshness-oriented.

**olllllo** · 12-26-2007, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Humpsalot

What about a fresh, peak of the season, strawberry wine? The flavor won't last long enough to ever be made into a decent commercial brew.

A lot of things like this are freshness-oriented.

Exactly. Now we need someone to tell us when and where to go.

Brakeman_Brewing · 12-26-2007, 06:38 PM

I think a great one would be to track down your ancestory, visit the 'motherland' so to speak, learn about the culture, area, family trade. Who knows, maybe your great great great great great grandfather was a brewer?

That could be a worth while way to spend some time and gain something from it.

**TheJadedDog** · 12-26-2007, 06:43 PM

My wife and I vacation on the French side of St. Martin. While the Island is getting more and more tourists and the Dutch side is a stop for several cruise lines, the French side has managed to retain some of its uniqueness. We stay in Grande Case at a beach club that is unlike any of the mega-resorts one often finds these days (it is more like the 1960s version of a resort). In the evening it is a short walk into "town" where the streets are lined with French restaurants and local "lo-los" which are these great Caribbean BBQ places. It may not be 100% unique, but it is not the typical Caribbean vacation. One day out of the week we venture to the Dutch side (after making sure no cruise ships are in town) for some shopping (to placate the wife), but other than that it is lazy days on the beach and awesome food for dinner.

The other thing for me is going to the traditional breweries in Europe. I know you can get Chimay at the grocery store, but it's not really the same thing as being there, is it? For me, I want to sit in a real Munich bier garden before I kick it.

quickerNu · 12-26-2007, 07:07 PM

I think most "true experiences" include overcoming some sort of adversity. As a Harley-Davidson salesman, I would love to say "your first bike trip". However, it is my job now to try and produce as many of these experiences as possible. Between ready made bike rallies, hotels, bikes that hardly have a problem, road-side assistance with rental/hotel/meal reimbursement, few of my customers get that "Easy Rider" life- changing ride they paid for.

The Flip side to this is how many people have no interest in the AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE of anything. Don't want to take enough time off from work, don't want to run into problems. You get so much from the AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE, you really have to throw yourself into it, truly invest.

One of the best times of my life was a spring break road trip alone on my 10 yr old wore-out CBR with $98 to my name. I camped in the hill country, on the beach, napped in an alley, and met some awesome people along the way. Perfect strangers I partied with all night, RVers who lent me tools, I can remember almost every moment of that week. There are entire years since that I only remember a few highlights from.

To get an AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE, you just have to go out and do it. Most people aren't willing or able to commit to it, so it never happens for them.

Sir Humpsalot · 12-26-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickerNu

I think most "true experiences" include overcoming some sort of adversity. As a Harley-Davidson salesman, I would love to say "your first bike trip". However, it is my job now to try and produce as many of these experiences as possible. Between ready made bike rallies, hotels, bikes that hardly have a problem, road-side assistance with rental/hotel/meal reimbursement, few of my customers get that "Easy Rider" life- changing ride they paid for.

The Flip side to this is how many people have no interest in the AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE of anything. Don't want to take enough time off from work, don't want to run into problems. You get so much from the AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE, you really have to throw yourself into it, truly invest.

One of the best times of my life was a spring break road trip alone on my 10 yr old wore-out CBR with $98 to my name. I camped in the hill country, on the beach, napped in an alley, and met some awesome people along the way. Perfect strangers I partied with all night, RVers who lent me tools, I can remember almost every moment of that week. There are entire years since that I only remember a few highlights from.

To get an AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE, you just have to go out and do it. Most people aren't willing or able to commit to it, so it never happens for them.

I'd say your first rally, your first organized ride, and your first 5 solo rides of more than 100 miles. I remember all of my reasonably long solo rides, virtually mile-by-mile. Some of the best experiences of my life. You meet the most interesting people when you don't know where you are.

**DeathBrewer** · 12-26-2007, 07:31 PM

My friends and I go camping and to the desert every year. It's more of a tradition, but its lead to other ideas of going backpacking/fishing in alaska and other truly wild areas. I think the outdoors is key to having a great experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by olllllo

Jamil stated on his Munich Helles show that there are no commercial examples of this style available in the US. You have to go to Munich to experience them.

Is this true? If so, it's list worthy IMO.

Visiting belgium and germany would be the only way to truly experience some of the worlds greatest beers. However, I can get Weltenburger Helles at a local restaurant. Is this authentic?

The ONE thing i really want to do in the next couple of years is go to Wacken.