Everyone's been everywhere

Following the brief trip to Indonesia (mainly Yogyakarta), I've been watching some Youtube content about other parts of Indonesia.   I am rather inclined to visit Lake Toba in Sumatra - the largest caldera freshwater lake in the world, created about after a massive explosion about 70,000 years ago that may, or may not, have nearly wiped out all of the early humans around the world.   I feel I have something of a "Ha! See, we beat you Mother Nature!", success-is-the-best-revenge, motive for wanting to see the lake from a hotel on the island in the middle.

I gather (from both Youtube, and someone I know) that it used to be an up and coming tourist destination up until about the 1990's.  It now looks sleepy and underdeveloped.  That's a bit of a pity, because my "claiming revenge on the part of humanity" motive would like to view it in the greatest comfort possible.   But I still think it looks good for a short visit.

Another place, apparently now popular with Indonesians too, is Labuan Bojo, which seems to be in an area of remarkable clear water and good coral reefs that have managed to avoid destruction, as well as the jumping off point to see komodo dragons on the main island people go to see them.  I have low interest in komodo dragons, but yes, the islands and reefs look spectacularly nice.  

Anyway, this is by way of preamble to wondering out loud whether watching too many Youtube amateur travel videos (many now done with remarkable high quality) makes people feel like not needing to really go to places in person.  I think a lifetime of TV nature documentaries on Africa did that to me - I seem to have accumulated so many viewings of lions taking down antelope that I have no interest in seeing it in person.   And I would just as soon not have an elephant charging the safari viewing vehicle.  So, with the exception of Egypt and perhaps Morocco:  I feel no need to see any of that continent.   (And even then, I recently have seen people who videoed the climb inside the big pyramid at Giza to the central chamber, and its looks way too claustrophobic and hot for me to consider.)

I know the first hand experience is different, but you can watch so many people doing the same circuit (and the same things on the same circuit) that it can take away at least the surprise element for some destinations.

Anyway, it's probably just a matter of self control, and not clicking on every link the All Knowing Google algorithm throws up.   But it's hard to resist....