I'm a bit sad to see some of the answers to John original post.

If you reread his post he is just asking a question and stating his frame of mind. I admit some generalities were thrown, but I don't think it is fair to ask for everybody to have the same open mind about the state of the world as a prerequisite to ask a question on this forum. I would not want to be a member of any site that require abiding to a predetermined set of values and ideology.

I think the only imperative is that we are respectful of one another.

That being said, I think John comment was very interesting because it raises a legitimate question about the perception versus the reality of developing countries.

While I think that it is true that in general people have exaggerated perception of the danger of these places, I also think that there is a tendency here on the HUBB to give an overly positive image of those places, bypassing the ugly and highlighting the beautiful, probably, I imagine, in an effort to counter the common negative perception. I think the reality lies in the middle (isn't it always the case?).

If you ask me to convey one primary impression of South America, it won't be a positive one. Sure I have incredible memories, it is a land of amazing adventures, the roads there, the possibilities for riding your bike are simply phenomenal and I'm quite certain that you could not live the same kind of adventure in Europe.

That being said the level of adventure and excitement that you can find there should not be confused with what would be an objective (as mush as objectivity is possible) impression of those countries on a human perspective. I've seen things there that have touched me, troubled me, saddened me so much that when you ask me how was latin america, it is those emotions that take the first spot. But after I told you about it , I'll tell you how amazing my trip was

So to answer John's original question, why go there? Because sometime going into places where you are out of you comfort zone and places that scares you is the best way to learn new things and to extend the experience you're going to have in this world. Somethings require a bit of suffering to be reached. Like crossing the altiplano desert, scared because you are in the middle of nowhere and your bike could break, but at the same time the beauty of the landscape mixed with the fear and the excitement makes for the most explosive cocktail of memories. I suspect there's a few people on that forum who are addicted to that cocktail

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