Madventures/Blog

We are often asked why we are so interested in extreme experiences.

It wasn’t always so. We got into backpacking in the 90’s and like so many young people at the time, we travelled extensively in Asia for years, armed only with a very small budget and a very great curiosity. Our first TV-series grew organically out of those days – we never had much ambition to be a part of the Babylon that is the TV scene – we just wanted to pay for our plane-tickets and raise awareness about alternative way of living this thing we call life. Maybe because of this, we gained cult following and a number of awards in our home country. And now here we are, almost a decade later and about to introduce our creation to the international audiences for the first time.

Back in 2002 we started filming in the developing countries on the grassroots level, because we wanted to document something else than tourist attractions. Then we left those beaten paths, because we wanted to get to know real people. And every once in a while we heard things from them – forbidden, bizarre, extreme things. We wanted to witness all that weirdness ourselves, even take part in it.

In true Gonzo journalistic fashion, we believe that the only way to reach something close to understanding between a stranger and a tribe, a nation or any group of people whose customs at first might make no sense to us or even feel repulsive, is to participate. We need to question our personal values, if we are to truly understand what lies behind even the strangest beliefs.

And we really need ways to understand each other. This is not just some hippie shit either, it’s just a fact if we want to survive in this world where intolerance, neoconservatism and hypocritical moralism are still trying to spoil things for the rest of us. So that’s why we are interested in the extreme – it’s all about taking a dive without a net and come through the other side unharmed. Experiences are the only way to grow.

Thanks for watching – but don’t be content to root onto that couch and watch other people’s adventures. Back you bags and go, if not today, then make a point of doing it this year. And remember, you don’t have to join the marines to see the world – going on the road is mostly cheap as chips, just do your research and don’t let your programming stop you from buying the ticket and taking the ride.

Riku & Tunna

P.S. We will be updating this new site on daily basis once the show begins Sept 21st 10 E/P at The Travel Channel.