Interactive Adventure: Wandering the Streets of Varanasi
Varanasi’s Old City is a confusing place, to say the least. The narrow streets twist and double back on themselves or branch out to dead-ends. Just finding your hotel can be a challenge. Here’s a chance to test your wits — can you find your way to the Vishnu Rest House?
Broadband only — 1.5MB. Requires Adobe Flash.
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
OH WOW!!!!! haha that is SUCH an awesome and fun idea Wes! :p couldn’t help but to play along!!! :p great pics as well.
Thanks, Nathan. Hoping to build a more elaborate version next time. Happy New Year!
Haha I love this. Really clever.
Thanks, man :)
Hahaha that was funny! Watch were you walk Wes, too much squishiness in a day! (It’s a often used critique about foreigners) :-)
It’s best just to not think about it ;)
Ah, memories! I stayed at Vishnu rest house, but still I got lost in your interactive adventure – just like I did in the actual streets.
Thanks, Michael. Getting lost is half the fun, yeah?
Love it mate, it takes engaging your readers that extra step
Thanks, man. Drink a warm English beer for me, willya?
You can forget that warm beer mate, I’m all about the coldies
Heh, I had a feeling you’d say that….
This is so cool!!! I’ve never seen a travel blog feature like this. Love it. Did it take you a long time to figure out? I can relate to the “same same” hotel frustration. In Vietnam there were 5 bus companies with the same name as the leading company, and numerous hotels with the same names as those in guidebooks… so annoying!
It took awhile to build — my Flash skills are pretty thin and there are a lot of details to keep track of. Now that I’ve done one, future versions will be easier.
SO COOL WES!!!! What an amazing idea! Well done!
Thanks! Ive been wanting to do one of these for awhile. Varanasi proved to be the perfect location.
Awesome idea mate – love your work (as always) :)
Thanks, brother! Have fun and best o’ luck in ’11
Awesome post Wes!
Thanks Cam. Happy New Year!
Wes! You are TOO FUNNY! TALENTED also
Thanks! I’m a Jack-of-all-trades. Master of None ;)
Great post Wes! Love it.
Thanks a bunch. Hope to do more in the future.
Agh! I just started working on a new blog design that copies your large format photos and now you do this? SO much fun but there’s no way I can do it.
I gotta stay ahead of the curve, yo! Reallly looking forward to seeing your larger photos :)
This was fun…hw abt more of these?
I definitely plan on doing more — they’re pretty time-consuming so it won’t be an everyday thing.
That’s a really unique idea, wes. Great implementation too.
I’d also love to see more of this.
Thanks, David! I’ll be posting more of them for sure. Hoping to do one here in Kathmandu, if I can think of an angle. Thanks for the comment!
Awesome!!! Add me to the list of people who want more!
Thanks, Phil. I’ll get busy!
That’s the best Varanasi street guide I’ve ever seen! Hillarious!
Not terribly useful, I think, but fun :)
really cute concept Wes — well done
Thanks, compadre. We’ll have to do one for trains soon, ya?
Very cool idea
Thanks! I’ve wanted to do one of these for awhile…
very intersting they way you have created it. were people helpful or not in guiding you?
Yeah, people are pretty helpful but the Old City is so twisty and convoluted that directions fall apart after 50 meters or so. “That way” just doesn’t have the same meaning we’re used to…
Great post! It gave me flashbacks of trying to find our hotel in Venice.
Ha! Yeah, very similar in that regard: “Take 8 lefts and 3 rights. Can’t miss it!”
Very awesome! Haven’t seen that sort of fun interactive creativity since the Shockwave Director days! Great job.
Director, oh my! That takes me back :)
Thanks for the comment.
You’re a genius!
Ha! Thanks. Don’t forget the ‘evil’ ;)