“In pursuit of fortune, glory and historical truth, daredevil archaeologist Indiana Jones, portrayed by Harrison Ford, engages in adventure across the globe. The first three blockbusters, “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Temple of Doom” and “The Last Crusade,” span North and South America, Africa and Asia. While little information about the upcoming film has been confirmed, the trailer and early reports for “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” indicate that the globe-trotting historian will once again bring his whip into jungles, ancient temples and maybe even a secret government compound.
For those who simply want to follow Doctor Jones’s trail, it’s a matter of booking flights or, in some cases, a tour (Expedia, for example, is offering Indiana Jones Travel Experiences). But recreating the spirit of his travels is much more difficult. The movies, inspired by the cheap and fast movie serials of the ’20s and ’30s, were rarely shot on location. In fact, much of the films were shot in Elstree Studio, a cavernous filmmaking facility in England.
“George Lucas wanted to do something like these old movie serials, but modernize it and do it better, with higher production values,” says Jonathon Rinzler, author of “The Complete Making of Indiana Jones.” “At the same time, he didn’t want $10 million on a shot you could do for $10,000.”
Still, the Indiana Jones crew has collected a lot of flyer miles over the years.
For the first film, “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Hawaii stood in for Peru in the opening scene where Jones nabs an Incan statuette from a booby-trapped temple. While scores of tourists flock to the ruins at Machu Piccu, Peru still offers plenty of off-the-track adventure. Martin Haggland, owner of New York-based Inka Empire tours, urges travelers to explore Choquequirao, a ruined city in the south of Peru.
“Access has been difficult until the last few years, and it’s had few visitors,” Haggland says. “If you’re looking for an Indiana Jones experience, where the ruins are still in the jungle and only partially revealed, this will be the place for you.”
The Nepal scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Jones acquires the headpiece to the Staff of Ra—and a “partner” in Karen Allen’s Marion Ravenwood—was shot on a set. If you want to re-enact Ravenwood’s drinking contest, Nepal offers several indigenous liquors, notably the potent raksi. Before heading out, study the political scene—last April, the Nepalese government imposed a week-long ban on the production and sale of alcohol.” ( via forbestraveler.com ) by Adam Bulger
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