When was the last time you broke into a building? When was the last time you went somewhere you weren't supposed to go? Was it when you were a kid? Not if you're an Urban Explorer. Urban Exploration is the art of going where you're not allowed to go. Rooftops. Tunnels. Construction sites. Abandonments. Restricted areas. In older times, explorers took to their ships or wandered the jungle. In our modern world, we have the urban landscape, which is equally full of adventure, treasure, exotic natives and uncharted territory.
The urban explorer is not to be confused with the tagger, the graffiti artist. Urban explorers love the place they explore, and follow an honorable code, something like Urban Bushido. The code goes as follows. Never damage a site. Never steal from a site. Never do something which would lower the site's value to a fellow explorer.
Urban exploration is about waking up from the deep slumber of social conditioning. It's about breaking out of step with the crowd. Your city is like a guided tour, with signs and arrows directing you where to go, what to look at, and who to fork your money over to. Step outside the tour and see the real countryside.
Urban exploration is about discovering yourself among the noise of the urban jungle. When we walk through a warped abandonment, it reminds us of our own mortality, urging us to live every moment to its fullest. When we crawl the tunnels, we feel the Thrill of the Cave, that pulse of fear and excitement that we oppress in our everyday lives. Sneaking on the rooftops, we are reminded that the bubble of office life is just a bubble, surrounded in literally every direction by the open air and open fields where our ancient ancestors hunted. Navigating a labyrinthine construction site reminds us that things were not always as they are, and leads us to ponder how the infrastructure evolved all around us.
LINKS TO FIND MORE ABOUT URBAN EXPLORATION
Here are some links to find out more about Urban Exploration. Grab your flashlight, throw on some gloves and boots, and join me.
Infiltration: No Disclaimer - Probably the most badass introduction to Urban Exploration, and the parent site, infiltration.org, has lots of info for newbies. The site was created by Ninjalicious, a man who did a lot to get the urban exploration community going, also the author of Access All Areas, a book about urban exploration.
Urban Exploration Resource - Home to a huge forum community, a massive archive of UE photography, and even information on some sites. If you can become a trusted member, you can get info on LOTS of sites.
Action Squad - One of my favorite urban exploration groups, they have a big photo gallery and even better, they have text documentation of many exciting missions.
Wraiths - Another famous urban exploration group, with even more delightful missions to read about.
Here are some other articles I've written. But only authorized personnel may read them!
My Trip To The Fujitaisekiji Buddhist Cult
Pictures From Japan
Some Things I'm Ashamed Of
Levels And Experience Points In Real Life
The urban explorer is not to be confused with the tagger, the graffiti artist. Urban explorers love the place they explore, and follow an honorable code, something like Urban Bushido. The code goes as follows. Never damage a site. Never steal from a site. Never do something which would lower the site's value to a fellow explorer.
Urban exploration is about waking up from the deep slumber of social conditioning. It's about breaking out of step with the crowd. Your city is like a guided tour, with signs and arrows directing you where to go, what to look at, and who to fork your money over to. Step outside the tour and see the real countryside.
Urban exploration is about discovering yourself among the noise of the urban jungle. When we walk through a warped abandonment, it reminds us of our own mortality, urging us to live every moment to its fullest. When we crawl the tunnels, we feel the Thrill of the Cave, that pulse of fear and excitement that we oppress in our everyday lives. Sneaking on the rooftops, we are reminded that the bubble of office life is just a bubble, surrounded in literally every direction by the open air and open fields where our ancient ancestors hunted. Navigating a labyrinthine construction site reminds us that things were not always as they are, and leads us to ponder how the infrastructure evolved all around us.
LINKS TO FIND MORE ABOUT URBAN EXPLORATION
Here are some links to find out more about Urban Exploration. Grab your flashlight, throw on some gloves and boots, and join me.
Infiltration: No Disclaimer - Probably the most badass introduction to Urban Exploration, and the parent site, infiltration.org, has lots of info for newbies. The site was created by Ninjalicious, a man who did a lot to get the urban exploration community going, also the author of Access All Areas, a book about urban exploration.
Urban Exploration Resource - Home to a huge forum community, a massive archive of UE photography, and even information on some sites. If you can become a trusted member, you can get info on LOTS of sites.
Action Squad - One of my favorite urban exploration groups, they have a big photo gallery and even better, they have text documentation of many exciting missions.
Wraiths - Another famous urban exploration group, with even more delightful missions to read about.
Here are some other articles I've written. But only authorized personnel may read them!
My Trip To The Fujitaisekiji Buddhist Cult
Pictures From Japan
Some Things I'm Ashamed Of
Levels And Experience Points In Real Life
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1 comments:
"When's the last time you broke into a building?"
I am an ubran explorer and I NEVER have. There's a code of ethics you should look into if you want to gain respect as an explorer.
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