"It Is Also The World's Biggest Dump"
A Journey To The Highest Village In The World
Saj Sinniah
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It’s the beginning of the week and a lot of TV shows have
begun the new season.
Amidst the madness of the Football World Cup, the cra-
ziness of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and the trauma of the Hand-
maid’s Tale, a brief amount of escapism is needed. I am
recommended to watch a 20 minute YouTube movie called
Motorcycle Diaries: A journey to the Highest Village in the
World.
I open up YouTube and read the description – it reads,
“Together with my friend Doove we embarked on a trip to
South America in the search of a Motorcycle Adventure.”
This makes me smile, I think I know what I am getting
myself into.
The movie begins and a feeling of happiness washes
over me. The primary person in this film is Carlos Costa,
who has a smile that could melt your heart.
Carlos films the majority of this documentary on a sin-
gle camera and captures the true essence of what he and
his mate are experiencing. Together they go through ac-
cidents, bike start failures and mishaps, but they seem so
positive. How is this possible I wonder? Perhaps it is the
serotonin that riders get that make them constantly happy.
On two occasions, the words “you could’ve died” and “we
don’t want to get shot!” get used in this short film, and yet,
there is no panic.
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Together their laughs are contagious, I feel like I am
watching a feel-good commercial, or close friends enjoy-
ing the moment. The two riders are clearly just having
fun, and they take their audience on a top of the world
adventure. How amazing it must be to be them – nothing
brings them down.
Now here’s a spoiler alert:
They do make it to the world’s highest village. Soon
followed by this description; “it is also the world’s biggest
dump!”
This place is dangerous, and they are told they would be
shot if they are spotted. Any average human would panic
at this stage and run away as fast as possible. Not Carlos
and Doove. They decide after having a near death experi-
ence to ride down to Bolivia, without visas (arguably ille-
gally) to have a beer.
Carlos – if you are reading this, you are an insane dare-
devil, and I love your optimism.
At the end of the film, the only criticism I have is that
the Carlos and Doove need to work on their high fives.
I recommend anyone and everyone to watch this film.
It’s 20 minutes worth of pure pleasure, it is worth your
time.
Visit YouTube to watch Motorcycle Diaries
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