It seems that the folk over at Road Junky have found themselves in a spot of bother lately.

We recently mentioned their post on cultural idiosyncrasies around the world (such as Albania’s pyramid scheme government woes) but we weren’t the only ones to stumble upon it – and a large number of readers are decidedly unhappy with their findings.

Having ourselves thought the article entertaining (and from our own experiences, containing at least the odd grain of truth in amongst the obvious inaccuracies) we couldn’t help but wonder why it had provoked such violent reactions. For HostelBloggers’ money it was as much a post about the line between stereotype and national characteristic, hearsay and fact… It was hardly portraying itself as investigative reportage, after all!

Admittedly, the subject matter was a little controversial even for a site that tends to be heavy on the frankness, light on the platitudes and rollocks along on a diet of sex, drugs and offbeat writing. But all the writing has the same amused, slightly cynical tone – and that was what caught (and continues to catch) the eye.

Maybe not every one of the ‘culture shocks’ they described was strictly accurate, but where else have we been informed recently that the high-five was invented in Arabia as the best way to greet people from atop a camel?

All we’re saying is, yes, travel writing should be informative and factual. But should it always have to take itself seriously, too?