Aaw- AL . 0 e Page 2-Sunday, April 11, 1982-The Michigan Daily Travel isn't the greatest thing in the world 0 The Michigan Daily-Sur i Allk By Mark Gindin Oh sure, I know all about the tulips of Holland, the Louve in Paris, the rocks of Stonehenge, and the Munich Oktoberfest. These are among the biggest tourist attractions of Europe. I've read all about them in magazines. That's right, not everybody actually goes to Europe, traversing the world in search of adventure. Some of us stay behind, keeping the homefires burning, keeping the country running while everyone else goes on vacation, and reading the travel supplement of our local newspaper. THE PLIGHT OF the non-traveled is a sad one, and one that goes largely ignored. It is about time someone spoke about this problem, which is probably more widespread than the elite globetrotters would like to admit. Imagine the suffering involved when forced to sit down and listen to the escapades of some jerk who just retur- ned from scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. On hearing the exploits of a hitchhiker who backpacked from Stuttgart to madrid last summer. One of the more subtle forms of tor- ture is accomplished by the editors of the National Geographic, of all people. Just leafing through the photo- abundant pages of the magazine is an eye-widening chore. THERE ARE MANY reasons or ex- cuses people use to rationalize the fact that we have never fone anywhere out- side our own backyard. Whatever the reason, there are ways to escape the fact. imagination plays a key part in the life of the non-traveler. Wishful thinking can take the form of a vacation that never was. Imagine white-water rafting down the Colorado, or scaling the heights of Mount McKinley, or walking through the open market in Istanbul. Imagine watching a gory bullfight in an ancient Portuguese arena. It's almost as good as being there. ANOTHER OF THE ways to use the ability of imagination to relieve the frustration of non-travel is really mean. Think of the "typical tourist," then at- tach the face of a friend or relative who is traveling or has just returned and is now incessently talking about the trip. Just the thought of them with in- stamatics around their wrists, sunbur- ned necks, with a tacky T-shirt and a bag of souvenirs wandering aimlessly down some backstreet in the ghettos of the Phillippines is enough to at least bring a smile. And when they do try and make their audience feel insignificant by reciting their adventures, only you will know the truth, and perhaps emit a small chuckle. PRACTICALLY, THOUGH, there are reasons we are better off not traveling. The reservations, the tickets, the luggage, the clothes, the missed planes, the smelly people in the next seat, and the lack of enough time to do ''everything" are reasons enough to shy away from the concept. Face it, there's no place like home. The backroads of Middle America, Michigan are among the most fascinating sights in the world. The tacky plastic sunflowers spinning in the breeze, the ceramic groups of ducklings, and the plastic deer family resting beside the front door all add a flavor unlike anywhere else in the world. Let me tell you about my trip to Hell ... THEONL SHOE THATIS F The Timberland® boat shoe is to any wardrobe. It has waterproof uppers that stay soft and supple, sol that won't rust, and a permanently Vibram® sole for longer wear. It's the classic boat shoe with o Timberland quality. 'U', Available in styks for men and women. CAMPUS 619 E. Liberty IqAST Daily Photo by MARK GINDIN You can go to Hell This sign, located near the center of town in Hell, Michigan, represents the essence of Middle America. The backroads of the country, like the one in Hell is on, reveal part of the country never seen by the globetrotting elite. They never know that Hell does freeze over. Daily Photo by JANET RAE THE ROCKY COAST of Anacapa Island, is a favorite spot of California scuba divers. Californla divigrg lreveals new worlds SUNJUNS Step into the pillowy suede innersole and you'll know you've found the real thing-Bass Sunjuns® .The label says Bass. The look says Bass. The quality says Bass. There's no comparison. Come see for yourself. You won't have to look any further for your favoraite summer sandals. Spring has Sprung at cv ave't 17 Nickels Arcade Ann Arbor ) P!!!M iiAL Spring Into Summer.! a travel supplement to J be 3ichigau DaiIlu Editor: Ann Marie Fazio Sales Manager: Kathryn Hendrick Special thanks to Julie Hinds SALES REPRESENTATIVES: Wendy Fox, Mark Freeman, Nancy Joslin, Beth Kovinsky, Caryn Natiss, Felice Oper, Tim Pryor, Sam Slaughter, Joe Trulik, Jeff Voight. WRITERS: John Adam, George Adams, Jason Adkins, Andrew Chapman, Poe Coughlan, Mark Gindin, Harlan Kahn, Janet Rae, Lisa Spector, Kristin Stapleton. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jason Adkins, Jackie Bell, Poe Coughlan, Mark Gindin, Harlan Kahn, Deborah Lewis, Janet Rae. COVER PHOTOS by Deborah Lewis (Continued from Page 9) safety control his depth. Dive instructors have discovered that with the BC, students don't need any particular physical ability to scuba. Prospective divers may learn the sport without even being able to swim. In- structors tell stories of paraplegic and amputee divers maneuvering freely underwater. UNIVERSITY STUDENTS can take their scuba certificates this fall term if they want to trot off to the wild waters of the Pacific or Caribbean next sum- mer or spring break. The physical en- ducation department offers a basic course of instruction for a lab fee of $40. Further information is available through the department. Once certification is earned, divers in Los Angeles take advantage of a num- ber of dive spots besides the Channel Islands. Various coves along Palos Verdes Peninsula in the southwest sec- tion of the county are popular, in ad- dition to sites directly off some of the resort beaches. Personnel at dive shops throughout the cunty are always willing to share tips about good spots. Visibility-which can go up to 30 feet. on a clear day - is relatively good in shore diving. But divers tend to prefer to catch a dive boat to one of the Chan- nel Islands where they can sometimes see as far as 150 feet. CATALINA AND its sister islands feature some forms of marine plants and animals that can be found nowhere else in the world. Underwater kelp forest, rocky cliffs, and sandy plains surrounding Catalina are loaded with a vast variety of animals, including sea urchens, rays, smaller sharks and schools of fish of every size, shape and color. Some of the islands support sea lion "rookeries" - mating grounds for the playful animals. Both young and old sea lions are natural clowns and seem to enjoy playing with divers almost as much as the humans enjoy being accep- ted into their environment. Wildlife in the marine sanctuaries - submerged areas where hunting and collecting are forbidden or restricted - is frequently unafraid of divers and sometimes an animal will swin right up to them. Other areas are excellent for hunting, offering "lobster" (actually a form of saltwater crayfish), scallops, abalone and a number of larger fish. Whether hunting or sightseeing, scuba diving is literally another world. Upon entering the water, it is easy to experience again and again the sen- sation that accompanies the first dive - that of being an astronaut visiting another planet. Despite the interven- tion of weights and tanks and high pressure hoses, it is easy to gain a sense of perfect freedom and awe, suspended in "space" while watching such an alien world so soon after departing ear- th. A I i{ F + v f g a