Mr. Jones-ish Adventures

So our favorite archaeologist/adventurer’s making a comeback this May, and if you think about it, are there any more adventure movies being made? If you were to star in your own adventure film, would it involve: a.) the raiding of tombs of any sort, b.) being chased by boulders in narrow passages c.) having to deal with wild animals like snakes d.) train cab chase scenes e.) taking various artifacts and taking them home as souvenir?

 

What of the adventures that Indy himself hasn’t covered in the films? (It’s actually hard thinking about this one.) Today, when life experiences can be virtual, there are still those who indulge in activities like wallclimbing to recapture some of that lost magic. I can’t think of any better way to re-live adventures than by doing them yourself, Indy or no Indy, you are, after all, not a fictional character who goes off to fictional adventures. Think of it like this, you’re in a reality tv show, and you’re the star! (Well, minus the tv and show really, just reality, where you could get hurt, but the triumphs are that much greater.)

Raiders of the Last Reserve

Safari – Has Indy ever been in Kenya? You could throw on a pair of khaki shorts and a pith helmet (a la Hunter S. Thompson) and ride around jeeps in the desert. Throw in a pair of binoculars to spot those critters. Optional to going on safaris is doing some big-game hunting. (Take note, not all places allow the hunting of certain animals. I think the Mkuze Falls Private Reserve allows this.) If you’re in Africa, there’s the Big Five, the five most elusive animals to hunt on safaris, which include the lion, the African elephant, the African buffalo, the black rhinoceros and the Leopard. Of course if you’re not into that sort of thing, you could opt to just watching a tiger try his luck at catching some lunch.

The City of Doom

Nothing says adventure like throwing yourself into a random flight into random city and walking around. When you throw yourself in situations outside your comfort zone, you tend to find out quite a bit about yourself, plus, there’s the added factor of the language barrier and potential street scams on every corner. Why not ask friends to set some GPS-blessed scavenger hunt? Eat food you’ve never tried before, walk around brand new towns to check out the architecture and whatnot. Pack a bull whip, of course, to fend off potential trouble – just don’t whip it out at random and people might mistake you for trouble.

The Underwater Crusade

Scuba diving – Yes, the geek that I am, I know that there’s an Atlantis-themed Indiana Jones game, but that doesn’t count as canon. Has Indy ever donned some scuba gear? There’re tons of beautiful places to go to for some underwater adventure, and I’m thinking for a twist, why not dive into a shipwreck? See if there’re any remnants of treasure (good luck) that treasure hunters haven’t chanced upon yet. Or, better yet, try going face to face with whale sharks, giant squids or giant jelly fish, if you happen to chance by one.