#1
We went on a tour when I was stationed there. Maybe 40 of us, mostly single twentysomething soldiers.
I don't believe in an afterlife, or in the supernatural in general...but I could not deny feeling the awful psychic *weight* of the souls snuffed out in that place. Near a quarter million, as I recall. And Dachau was a work camp, not an extermination camp.
Within those fences, it was weirdly silent. There was no sound of birds, or bugs; not so much as a stir of breeze. I remember the term *unhallowed* occurring to me.
The 2+ hour bus ride back to base was also as silent as the grave. 40-odd young, single soldiers, and no jokes, no laughter, *barely* any conversation.
Every adult human on earth should visit one of those camps at least once. I'm glad I did, and I'll never, ever go back.
#2
You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
#3
I was doing a tech transfer to the Indian subsidiary of the multinational I worked for. I had a car and a driver so at the weekend we took a trip with a couple of indian colleagues.
We went to some place that had a temple on top of a hill. Nearby was a place making big metal pots. We had a look inside and it was hellish. Lots of people bashing away at metal, working with flaming furnaces. After a few minutes i realised most of the workers were children.
We ascended a lot of steps to the temple. One of the indian colleagues was sweeping the ground so that he didnt accidentally step on an ant.
When we came down the other side we found a young boy begging. He was on something like a skateboard. His thighs ended in bloody stumps. I gave him some change I had and that's when I noticed all his fingers ended in stumps. The money was snatched by a guy who was selling postcards anyway.
This was very upsetting, I had sons of about the same age. My indian colleague told me that the kid was likely mutilated deliberately.
I had to cut short my trip. I can remember the relief walking through the door of the British Airways plane.
Although I did have to work in Chennai years later I have no wish to visit India as a tourist.
These days, it’s easier than ever to pick a travel destination. All you need is your phone to ask Google for recommendations, scroll through Instagram reels, or even use AI to plan a full itinerary in seconds. You’ll find beaches that look like they’re straight out of a dream, mountain cabins with cozy fireplaces, and cafés claiming to serve the “best coffee in the world.”
But here’s the thing: while technology has made travel planning simpler, it has also made it a little misleading at times. Not every picture or post shows what it’s really like on the ground.
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A few clicks might show you the highlights but not the full story. It’s tempting to trust that glossy travel reel or influencer recommendation, but behind every perfect sunset picture might be a crowded beach, overpriced food, or an unsafe neighborhood.
To understand how travelers can avoid such unpleasant surprises, we spoke with Priyanka, who works with Kesari Tours, one of India’s most trusted travel companies. With over 50,000 followers and decades of experience, Kesari has received multiple awards, including one from the President of India, for its exceptional service. Priyanka has helped plan hundreds of trips across the world and has seen firsthand how online expectations can clash with reality. Her insights are a must-read for anyone planning their next getaway.
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Like many places in that part of the world no one seemed to understand the concept of waiting in line, everyone just crowded around and tries to eventually push their way to the front.
I couldn't get out of that city fast enough.
#9
They only got better after the hurricanes came through in the early 2000s and destroyed most of the older buildings so FEMA was forced to put up “temporary trailers” that they never took back because the people had pretty much ruined them too much to be used elsewhere. They were still nicer than anything these people had ever owned.
Yet after all is said and done, I’ve never encountered anyone in that town that was as nasty as the general population of Louisville, KY. I once had a gun pulled on me for throwing trash in a public bin outside of a Walmart. And just so many random street fights.
So if you mean the place, Indiantown. If you mean the people, Louisville.
Priyanka explains, “We obviously have popular touristy places in our packages, but here’s something travelers really need to understand, not every destination looks like it does on social media. What you see is often a carefully edited glimpse, not the whole experience. Crowds, long queues, or local restrictions are usually left out. So when people expect the same perfection, they sometimes end up disappointed.”
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She adds an important note about safety, especially for solo women travelers. “Some places look magical in photos but may not actually be safe. We always advise clients to avoid such areas without a local guide, particularly after dark. We’re not trying to scare anyone, but safety should always come first. Researching the safety reputation of a location before booking is essential. A little preparation goes a long way toward making a trip enjoyable rather than stressful.”
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I stayed with a friend in Graz, Austria for a while and we would walk through this park during the day as a shortcut. We made the mistake of using this shortcut after dark one day and I was honestly fearing for my life. There were so many men hanging around drinking, trying to talk to us and blasting music. As 2 young women it was terrifying. Imagine like a scare maze but in real life. People getting in your face and laughing and shouting.
#15
I couldn't believe anyone could live there without being on max strength anti-depressants.
Another factor many people overlook is the political situation of the country they’re visiting. Priyanka explains that political unrest, protests, or transportation strikes can completely disrupt travel plans. “If you’re not aware of what’s happening on the ground, you could get stuck or have your itinerary ruined. Always check news updates and travel advisories from official sources before finalizing your plans. Being informed allows you to travel with peace of mind.”
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The City Hall building was about the size of a trailer, with a sign that literally has letters missing because they fell off. You could see the silhouette where the letters used to be. Went to a small burger place and, just like in a movie, everyone turned to look at us when we walked in. A tv behind the counter was playing episodes of Little House on the Praire. There were rifles on the walls, and posters that said stuff like "We don't call the police." with pictures of guns under the text. Needless to say, quite a few MAGA amd Blue Lives Matter merch too (the irony is not lost on me).
We're from Puerto Rico and we usually speak Spanish, but I told my wife we should probably speak English while we're there... Just in case. This was only a few months ago, so speaking Spanish could've probably gotten us in a bit of trouble. We still got plenty of dirty looks from some of the customers and one of the waitresses. We ate as fast as we could!
Edit: the town is called Sigurd, Utah. If you look it up on Google right now, you'll get a photo of the town hall and you can see the "D" in Sigurd is nearly falling off. By the time we were there, it had fallen off completely.
Visa rules are another area that travelers often forget to double-check. Priyanka shares, “For example, the U.S. recently changed certain visa interview requirements and waiting periods. A small update like that can affect your entire plan. Always stay updated on documentation and visa guidelines. It’s better to double-check than face last-minute delays or cancellations right before your trip.”
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