Wanderlust

I know I am 100% guilty of having Wanderlust:

It's been part of my upbringing, I will always find time and reason for a little adventure. I am one of those people who loves new places and cultures and to never know what the day will hold in a new location.

Nowadays, we can travel without even going anywhere. The internet has opened up ways to visit far-off places through POVs. Influencers and even TikTok helps! Between YouTube, Documentaries, and the World Wide Web, you don’t even have to leave your couch. To get that taste of what's out there. However, what else IS out there??

What happens when those things don’t have the best intentions? Maybe even evil and horrendous. Well in that equation, we have Eli Roth, the Dark Web, and the indie movie franchise, Hostel.

If you're into overly dramatic gore and twisted movies, this was top of the list for 2005 releases. If not let me do a quick synopsis

American Gap year tourists are looking for the ultimate hedonistic Vacation, the thrill they can't just get with usual partying and illicit substances. They book a mystery vacation to a far-off place (Slovakia is the subject of this 1st movie) Once they are secluded and alone they discover that instead of being on the hunt for the ultimate high…they are the hunted. They become the prey for ultra-rich businessmen who signed up for a Red Room Vacation (hold that thought I'll get there)

The rest of the movie is full on torture scenes of some of the most violent allowed on a fictional screen. The Movie was so dark and gore-filled it was even banned in a few countries. It's truly a disturbing film. It's definitely made to remind people who love to solo travel that you never know what's behind that AirB&B Ad.

Let’s say you watched even just the trailer, at 55 seconds in you would see.”Inspired by true events” (I included it below for extra fun!)

Is this true? Well, the short answer is Yes. The film was inspired by a conversation, which in turn led to a link being sent. That link was to a place on the Dark web.

A Thai Site that offered vacations that included the thrill kill experience. For $10k USD (now bitcoin) , the website stated Americans could purchase prey. You could travel to Thailand and shoot someone in the head in a private room, these Red Room Vacations as they are more widely known, have never been fully proven but more concerning they have never been disproven.

The site claimed that the person you were killing had signed up for it and that part of the money would go to their family because they were so broke and were gonna die anyway. It was to give you the thrill of taking another human life.

Now I would never suggest to dabble in the Dark Web world, it's a space and time in our modern day that is basically untraceable, fully incognito.

While no one can pinpoint the origins of the Dark Web, Essentially, it uses a cluster of networks called “darknets.” These include, but aren’t limited to, peer-to-peer networks including Tor and Freenet. (these are not just your average Google and can't just be accessed. I won't go into that any further)

The hotspots for illegal activity on the Dark Web are marketplaces and forums where bad people, cybercriminals and worse, will transact illegal products and services.Some of the illicit products lawbreakers and scammers peddle on these black markets include stolen and counterfeit data, Passports, stolen goods, firearms, mystery boxes, death decor and sadly even children and women.

Murder/Dark Tourism is not new, and is very real. Booking that morbid vacation to known houses and places of serious crimes, death and Tragedy.

How many guests a year stay at various Las Vegas Hotels? Guess what? 1100 people pass away every year on the strip and surrounding area and that is not including the notorious ones like Bugsy Siegal or Tupac. It's a Dark Tourist destination. So is Japan, China, Alcatraz, Winchester house, Love Canal or even Twin Tower Memorial (Rest their souls)

Have you been to Fort McMurray, Halifax, or Stanley Park? You may be there to take in the rich environments, but I guarantee someone in that tourist group you are walking with is there because of the Toxic Waste, The Titanic, or the stories of the Babes in the Woods Murders

These may not be everyone's cup of tea, but certainly more accepted than what could be possibly found on the Dark Web.

Trailer: note 55 Seconds in https://youtu.be/C2Kfp3zVBKs?si=3Zd9OxOnQ7ucDEWv&t=3