Buzz
Here’s a collection of must-visit places for those planning a getaway. Skip the standard tourist spots and try exploring some of these quirky alternatives. There’s something for everyone, and you might even meet others with the same unique interests.
10. Noodle Bath Japan
The Japanese approach things a bit differently. One day, someone grew bored of the traditional water and soap bath, and decided to try soaking in noodles. This idea soon caught on, and others followed. It’s said that the pepper collagen in the pork broth helps boost metabolism and rejuvenates the skin. Acne is also said to disappear after just one bath. Previously, the spa had filled its baths with Beaujolais wine and chocolate.
9. Vale de la Prehistoria Cuba
It’s unclear whether Fidel had Michael Crichton involved in the design of this odd blend of history and fantasy, but even the creator of Jurassic Park would find it a bit out of place amidst the life-size prehistoric creatures crafted by local prisoners. Spanning 11 hectares, the park in Santiago de Cuba features 200 models, from brontosauruses to cavemen, offering a bizarre Communist theme park vibe, with a touch of the Flintstones thrown in for good measure.
8. Karni Mata Temple India
Rajasthan, India. Known as the land of Maharajas, palaces, deserts, camels, and the Karni Mata temple, which is not just a sanctuary for rodents but also a sacred place where they are revered. Built in the early 20th century by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner in honor of Karni Mata, a Hindu female sage, the temple's grandeur stands in stark contrast to the unexpected experience it offers. The rats here hold such high status that if one dies accidentally, it must be replaced with a replica made of solid gold.
7. International Friendship Exhibition Hall North Korea
In Pyongyang, often described by a journalist as a 'Stalinist theme park', sits the International Friendship Exhibition Hall. This vast building houses over 90,000 gifts accumulated by Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s ‘great leader’. Among the donors are figures such as Soviet leaders Gregory Malenkov and Nikolai Bulganin, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Fidel Castro of Cuba, and Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe. The gifts range from silver chopsticks from Mongolia to a gold cigarette case from Yugoslavia’s Marshal Tito, a chess set from Colonel Qaddafi, and a wooden tray with a grinning alligator offering drinks, sent from Nicaragua. Truly, friendship does come with unique presents.
6. Isla de las Munecas Mexico
Julián Santana Barrera amassed discarded dolls, driven by a local legend that he was doing so to appease the spirit of a young girl who had drowned in the river. The eerie collection stares back at you as you navigate the canals of Xochimilco. To make the tale even more eerie, Barrera met the same tragic fate as the girl he sought to honor.
5. Cockroaches Hall of Fame United States
When you visit Michael Bohdan’s Cockroaches Hall of Fame in Plano, Texas, you’ll encounter characters like Ross Peroach, David Letteroach, and Marlin Monroach. As a trailblazing pest control specialist, Bohdan brought famous figures to life in the most bizarre way: by using deceased cockroaches. For those who aren’t fans of the dead, there are also Madagascar hissing cockroaches—alive and ready to impress.
4. Bang Kwang Prison Thailand
While Bangkok never fails to keep travelers entertained, should boredom ever creep in, there's always the option of visiting the infamous Bangkok prison. For a fee, you can interact with the inmates, some of whom are Western tourists whose vacations took a dark turn. Gaining notoriety from the 1999 film *Brokedown Palace*, this highly secure facility's appeal lies in the chance to witness 7,000 prisoners serving time for offenses ranging from drug trafficking to murder. Additionally, you’ll learn firsthand the importance of staying on the right side of the law in Thailand.
3. Karner Bone House Austria
One of the most unexpected locations for an ossuary, the Karner Bone House in the peaceful Austrian town of Hallstatt, might bring to mind the hills and melodies of *The Sound of Music*. Yet, this site is now famous for its skulls, adorned with intricate designs like flowers, leaves, and serpents. This curious tradition emerged due to a shortage of burial space and the pressing need to reuse graves. Surprisingly, only 2,100 skulls from the 30,000 documented deaths and burials were preserved.
2. Sekigahara War World Japan
In Gifu Prefecture, an unusual theme park brings the legendary battle of Sekigahara to life. A businessman, not content with a mere memorial, went a step further by recreating the battle in vivid detail, complete with full-sized concrete figures depicting beheadings, ritual suicides, and hand-to-hand combat. If you’re still not overwhelmed by the grim spectacle, the constant loop of the song ‘Ah, the decisive battle of Sekigahara’ will surely make a lasting impression.
1. Neutrality Arch Turkmenistan
If you ever embark on the legendary Silk Road, as the ancient traders once did, you might find yourself in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, home to one of the country’s most notable figures: Saparmurat Niyazov. After Turkmenistan gained independence, Niyazov made sure his name appeared everywhere, but his most infamous contribution is the Neutrality Arch. To cement his legacy as a ruler obsessed with his own grandeur, he ordered his statue to be placed atop the arch, rotating perpetually so that it always faced the sun. Ironically named ‘Neutrality Arch,’ it’s hard to associate the word with a man who governed with absolute control.
