by Lynnette Lounsbury
Usually the undead of America’s South are quite hard to find. For a people with the brainpower of an Ikea sofa, they have learned surprisingly quickly that venturing their moaning, skin-dragging asses into the open will result in Daryl snapping off a cross-bow bolt through their rotting skulls.
Taken from rUNdead website
Not so during the Charleston Undead Run (this year held in October). Runners get to navigate their way along a five kilometre course that, somewhat unwisely, takes them through a zombie infestation. These zombies aren’t quick enough to take your thigh muscle though – just the flags tied around your arms. Runners who make it to the end alive and with their flags intact win stuff. The race also collects canned goods for the Lowcountry Food Bank – appropriately helping to end hunger.
If running seems a bit strenuous to you then you are going to die during the apocalypse then perhaps a walk is more your speed. Get undercover and see what the enemy is really like. The biggest Zombie parade in the world (at the moment anyway – the competition for this Guinness record is high), is officially still held by Mexico City with almost 10,000 participants in 2011. However, unofficially Bueno Aires threw a little 30,000 zombie party last year that sounds like it might have been fun.
Perhaps you just want to walk in the shoes of some zombie hunting legends? Atlanta Movie tours in, surprisingly, Atlanta, USA, offers you the chance to take one of two amazing Walking Dead tours (from the luxury of your steel reinforced bus). The Big Zombie Tours take in the abandoned hospital where Rick woke up to discover the world had been taken over by zombies, the camps where the groups stayed and even Woodbury Town Hall.
And for the locals? Sydney is hosting its sixth annual Zombie Walk this November. It’s just after Halloween to save on costuming and takes place in Hyde park. The event supports the Brain Foundation, of course, and participants dress up, wander around aimlessly and still provide funds for a very good cause. This writer will be there with bells and blood on. You can register now on the website to receive updates. Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth also hold annual events so you have no excuse to keep the blood on the shelf this year.
Taken from Sydney Zombie Walk website
Now, perhaps you are a pro when it comes to the undead, but I assume I’m talking to at least a few unwary travellers and amateurs here– and I can’t stress enough the importance of being prepared before you encounter a zombie. Before. Try as we might Ytraveler was unable to find a travel insurance company willing to insure you against zombie bites. It appears in this venture you are on your own. Here are our tips for intelligent and forward-thinking apocalypse preppers.
– Wear some heavy canvas. Yes I realise zombies appear to favour such warmer climes as the US South and Israel, but when have you ever been able to bite through a military jacket (no one in the office managed it and we don’t have decomposing gums). It will give you that extra minute of defence.
– Carry a weapon. You would never go into bear country without a can of bear spray. Why would you venture into the territory of the hungry undead without something on hand to destroy their virus-riddled brains? Guns – not so much. Too much noise. And Michonne’s magnificent samurai sword, whilst efficient, is also a difficult weapon to find. Instead we recommend something that doesn’t require aim and is long enough to use without getting you too close to those snapping teeth. A machete or a bowie knife should do fine. We think Sydney Airport customs will be fine with it once you explain your reasons.
– For the love of all that is holy – don’t drive a Smart Car. Or a Volkswagon Beetle. Or anything else that can actually be eaten. Always choose the Land Rover Defender or the Hummer. And don’t get out of it to look through the bushes to see what that weird noise is. Just don’t.
Taken from The Walking Dead Season 2
– Study your enemy. Make sure you know them inside out. We don’t want anyone accidentally shooting Bill Murray now do we? Here are our best suggestions for high-end, academic research.
1. World War Z – Gerry Lane has done the research for you here. Just take his warm hand and listen carefully. And hope to heaven the zombies you meet aren’t this fast.
2. The Walking Dead – Okay, you don’t need to emulate everything about these people. But you can learn from them – arguing endlessly and loudly in the open will draw zombies towards you, not keep them away. But there is a little bit of Daryl in all of us, if we can just find it, strap it to a crossbow and fire it accurately.
3. Zombieland – Don’t dress up like a zombie, during the zombie apocalypse. ‘Nuff said.
4. Shaun of the Dead – Anything is a weapon. Anything.
5. Night of the Living Dead – The original. Look at how far zombies have come!
6. Anything with Milla Jovovich in it. She’s awesome.
That should about do it. Take in a tour, go for a run, pour on some blood. Then get yourself a few dozen cans of refried beans and some dehydrated eggs and head for somewhere cold. You’ll be fine. And we’ll see you next time with more Geek Travel.
Author’s Bio: Lynnette Lounsbury is Senior Editor of YTravel, a lecturer at Avondale College and writes everything from travel articles to novels, poems and some pretty well crafted “to-do” lists.