Rambler is an amazing website that is not meant for tourists, it is a place for true travelers. Travelers who are open to exciting challenges. Challenges that include scavenger hunts like 'Find a street sign with more than 25 letters' or perhaps 'Look for a hobbit house in the countryside'.

John Roa, the creator of Rambler, realized that even though there are plenty of sources from where a traveler can learn about good places to eat, adventures to pursue and sights to visit, but very rarely do you get to learn about off-beat places that either a local or a 'real' traveler would know of.



At Rambler, a user posts a 'Quest' that can be accepted by anyone in the world. On completing a particular challenge (quest) the traveler is awarded with points. In my opinion, rather than the points, it is whole concept of going on a quest at a foreign land that inspires travelers the most. John Roa likes to call it "traveler-inspired international scavenger hunt".

The whole idea of Rambler cropped into Roa's head during one of his travels to Argentina, where he was recommended to do the same old touristy stuff like, visiting famous steak houses, or taking tango lessons. But luckily, while chatting on Facebook, one of his friend suggested him to watch a show called 'La Bomba del Tiempo'.

"We did, and it ended up not only being one of the coolest things I've ever seen, but made for such a great night that I think I would go back to B.A. just for that show." shares Roa.

This led him to thinking that if it wouldn't have been for that Facebook chat, he would've never had the slightest clue of such an awesome show happening in that town. A few days later, he met a solo-traveler like him who was working on a scavenger hunt (take a picture with a local named Gunnar in Iceland). It was a challenge given to her by a friend.

Joa found this idea to be absolutely brilliant, "If you were to actually spend time knocking all of these off a list, you would have a true Icelandic experience—you'd talk to locals, try new food, get lost in the city, explore the country, and have a hilarious time doing it." With this thought, he decided to work on an app over the holidays and within no time he created a wonderful place for travelers called 'Rambler'.



















When you visit the site, you will be surprised by how just reading these quests makes you wanna pack your bags and head out for an adventure of a lifetime. While browsing the site, I came across challenges like, 'Have your photo taken next to a wild gorilla', 'Go around the city of Madagascar as a rickshaw driver', 'See the John Lennon wall' or 'Jump a waterfall in Hong Kong'.

There are many who would argue that the Internet is already loaded with information about cool and off-beat places to visit all over the world. So why would anyone need another website to take on challenges? Here's John Roa's counter argument:

"I took a solo trip to Iceland and didn't plan or research a thing past my flight and hostel. I met some amazing people and did some amazing things. However, it was all very random, and I am sure I missed more than I saw. It's not because I was too lazy to buy a Lonely Planet, it's because travel guides push you down the tourist path and don’t give you the real experience. Taking a picture of a monument and walking on isn't traveling in my book."

I believe that challenges truly inspire a traveler, and if there is a community with genuine and like-minded people who like to share their quests with people who are willing to take it, then why would anyone buy a travel guide? Do let me know what you think in the comment section below.

www.ramblerhq.com


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