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Entertainment July 25, 2019
Sunshine, palm trees and margaritas? Nah, more like tragedy, danger and death.
Would you fill your next vacation with histories of tragedy and life-threatening activities? If so, you might be intrigued to visit some destinations in the TV series “Dark Tourist” on Netflix. In the show, journalist David Farrier visits dangerous and bizarre places around the world. Here’s a list of five dark destinations visited in the show.
Vampires don’t exist. Or do they? Saying there are vampires in New Orleans would actually be true…
I’m not talking about vampires that never sleep and live for thousands of years, but people identifying themselves as “real vampires.” These people drink blood from humans or animals to feel healthy. (Yes, you heard that correctly.)
Some are primarily awake at night, and some are even using fangs. In the third episode of “Dark Tourist,” Daniel Farrier travels to New Orleans to have dinner with some of them.
In the second episode, Farrier visits the “Aokigahara forest”, more commonly known as “The Suicide Forest.” Karen Nakamura, professor of anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, told CNN “it’s not surprising to find a body there […].”
Due to the forest’s reputation, there’s a sign by the entrance urging people to think of loved ones and seek help if they’re considering suicide. Moreover, Aokigahara forest is claimed to be haunted. In the episode, David Farrier’s travel guide, Yo, is clearly worried and claims to hear voices. Now if this isn’t creeping you out, this might be a dark tourism attraction for you.
Another destination of his dark trip in Japan is Fukushima. Ever since the meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011, the city is subject to high levels of radiation. Due to the dangers of large doses of radiation and acute radiation exposure, there are zones in the Fukushima area where visitors are prohibited to enter.
However, in the second episode of “Dark Tourist” on Netflix, Farrier and a group of tourists go on a bus tour in the area. Farrier even goes against the rules by entering forbidden zones. Furthermore, the level of radioactivity in the air rises dramatically as they proceed, evoking fear among the tourists. They thus decide to turn and head back to “safety,” meaning lower – yet dangerous – levels of radiation.
If you hate horror movies, McKamey Manor is not the place the go. That is, unless you believe experiencing trauma in a haunted house can help you overcome your fears. McKamey Manor gives eight-hour horror tours where visitors get kidnapped, masked, bound, slapped, stomped on and dunked under water. And the most remarkable part? People pay for it.
It’s so terrifying that no one has made it through the seemingly horrific and painful eight hours of the tour. In the eighth episode of “Dark Tourist,” Daniel Farrier adds up the people who can’t endure the full tour. He doesn’t even make his way to the mansion, and I certainly don’t blame him.
Another destination for dark tourism is Varosha, located near Farmagusta in Cyprus. In order to get there, you need a strategy to get past the fence surrounding it. Army patrols guard the Turkish-controlled ghost town, and according to BBC News, they have orders to shoot on sight. David Farrier decides to risk his life by trying to enter Varosha in the fifth episode of “Dark Tourist.” However, the Turkish army detects his attempt, and he nearly ends up at the police station.
With all these destinations in mind, I believe it’s safe to say that there’s something for everyone. If you’re drawn to the odd and wicked; from danger, death and fear, you might find dark tourism appealing. If you don’t, then you still might find it thrilling to watch Daniel Farrier experience it all in “Dark Tourist” on Netflix. Are you still not convinced? Then here’s another list of bingeable Netflix TV-shows for you to watch.
