For adventure-travel enthusiasts, visiting caves is a great way to satiate one’s appetite for exploring the lesser-traversed world out of the sun’s light. Immersed in bizarre natural formations, you’ll see rainbow colored rock compositions, jagged stalagmites, rugged stalactite, azure waters and scenery that will make you feel like you’re on another planet. Everything goes silent as the air gets cooler, and the only sound you hear is the trickle of water dripping from the uneven cavern roof. These places are sometimes peaceful, other times eerie, but almost always alluring.
Whether you want to get out and explore a cave for yourself or feel better curbing your curiosity from your computer chair, you can get a visual idea of some of the world’s most beautiful caves by checking out the gallery below.
Of all the incredible monuments in Ethiopia, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are by far the most impressive. Starting in the 12th century A.D., Ethiopian rulers dug a series of churches out of the solid bedrock.
This architecture-in-reverse creates a bizarre and otherworldly scene. As you walk along the exposed rock, you come across giant holes in the stone filled with churches. Narrow steps take you down into the pits, where you’ll find some welcome shade from the powerful African sun. Enter the churches and you’ll come upon pilgrims and priests studying the Kebra Nagast and Bible by the dim light steaming in through stone grills high in the walls. Further in the gloom, you’ll spot the gleam of elaborate gold and silver crosses as incense wafts through the air.
Now the churches have been scanned using 3-D laser technology. The World Monuments Fund sponsored the scan along with University of Cape Town in order to better understand the layout and look for any potential problems in its preservation.
Interested in reading more about Ethiopia? It makes a great adventure travel destination. Check out my series on my Ethiopian road trip and my two months living in Harar.
How far would you go to get a bird’s-eye city view while swimming? If you’re staying at the Holiday Inn Shanghai Pudong Kangqiao, you’ll get to take a dip in their glass-bottom pool, which appears to be suspended in mid-air as it partially hangs over a 24-story drop (shown above).
The adrenaline-pumping pool, which is the first of its kind in China, is 98 feet long and 20 feet wide. It was designed by Singaporean company Chan Sau Yan Associates.
“We wanted to provide our guests a unique swimming experience, and let them feel they’re vacationing even in a bustling city,” a spokesperson from InterContinental Hotels Group, parent company of Holiday Inn, told news.com.au.
So far, the guests seem to enjoy the feeling of being able to swim in the sky. Don’t worry, the bottom is made with toughened glass for added safety.
After reading a title like that, you’re probably wondering how such an oxymoron could be possible. If you’ve never traveled without a plan before, it is one of the greatest ways to take a vacation; however, even when going on a trip without an itinerary, there is still a bit of pre-departure research that is involved. Use this guide to help you successfully plan a trip without making plans.
Why You Should Travel Without A Plan
The thought of traveling without a well-structured plan can sound extremely scary to those who have never done it.
“But, where will I sleep? How will I know where to go and what to do? What if I run into trouble?”
Don’t fret, as these questions all get answered along the way. You’ll realize it’s easy to find hostels, get recommendations and use common sense to keep yourself safe. The beauty of traveling without an itinerary is you can live in the moment and change your plans as you go. Before departure, you’ll have no idea what you’ll encounter. Maybe you’ll get an opportunity to volunteer with an interesting organization or do a homestay and live with locals. Or, maybe a music group you like will be coming to town or a unique festival. You may even find a new friend you would like to travel with, or possibly even your future husband or wife (you’d be surprised).One of my first solo backpacking trips was a summer in Europe. Before going, I planned out every single detail, down to what trains I would take each day. I booked 90 nights of accommodation in advance, signed up for tours and wrote down restaurants and bars I wanted to check out. After about a week of this tightly scheduled trip, I realized I hated the commitment. In Amsterdam, I met a guy I really liked, and would have stayed longer with him if I hadn’t pre-booked my train and hostel in Bacharach. In Paris, I missed out on a huge summer music festival that was happening the day after I was leaving. And in Rome, I met some of the greatest people I’d ever met in my life, but only got to spend three days with them due to my rigid schedule. Moreover, I missed out on free and discounted tours through my accommodation that offered the same itinerary as the ones I had pre-booked.
I had quite the opposite experience when backpacking South America, where I planned virtually nothing. First of all, by not booking accommodation and tours way in advance, I had the ability to show up to a place and ask other travelers, locals and hostel owners what was worthwhile to do in the area. Using this tactic not only forced me to interact with locals, it allowed me to discover some lesser known hikes and sites. For example, when in Ushuaia in Patagonia I knew I had to visit Tierra del Fuego; however, I discovered two hikes I enjoyed even more but had never heard of, Martial Glacier and Valle de Lobos.
Along with discovering new sites, I was also able to visit lesser-known cities I hadn’t expected to end up in. For instance, when I arrived in Lima, Peru, I figured I would head straight to the lazy beach town of Mancora afterwards. That is, until someone in my hostel showed me their photos from a hike in Huaraz. I left Lima early, a city I expected to love but wasn’t that crazy about, and spent almost a week in Huaraz trekking and taking in the unique natural scenery.
Lastly, too much planning can actually cause stress. When you’re locked into certain dates and itineraries, that’s it. It doesn’t matter if you hear about something more interesting or a better deal along the way, you’re stuck with your plans unless you don’t mind forfeiting money and going through the hassle of rescheduling bookings. Arriving somewhere without a plan will allow you the freedom to enjoy as many activities as you want. And when you’re done, you can hop on a bus and move on to the next city.
What You SHOULD Plan Ahead Of Time
Now, when I say you shouldn’t plan ahead of time, this refers to you itinerary. You should allow yourself freedom and openness to unexpected adventures by not locking yourself into a day-to-day plan. However, there are a few things you should always plan before embarking on a trip.
The most important thing to research before a trip is what steps you’ll need to take to be able to exit your home country and enter the one you’re visiting. Make sure your passport isn’t expired and research what visas and/or documentation you’ll need. Moreover, call a travel doctor and find out what vaccinations are necessary. Keep in mind these doctors can be pricey, as they’re often not covered by insurance. If you’re only going to need something small like malaria pills, see if you’re regular doctor can write you a prescription instead.
Moreover, you’re not going to be able to go anywhere unless you book the first leg of your flight. Know at least when you want to travel outbound and where you want to go. Personally, I like booking my round-trip ticket in advance, simply to save money. This doesn’t mean I plan an itinerary, just a starting and ending point. It can also be wise to book your first night’s accommodation, simply to ease your initial culture shock.
In terms of safety, I like to enroll in the U.S. government’s free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. If there is ever an emergency where you needed U.S. assistance, this makes the process easier. Moreover, I do some research on the first city I will be visiting to get an idea of what areas are known to be safe and unsafe. Of course, always ask your hotel this same question, and have them provide a map to show you exactly where you can and can’t go. Because the staff lives there, they will know the best answer to this.
Finally, decide who you will be traveling with. Personally, I usually skip this step because I enjoy traveling solo; however, there are many people who would rather travel with a companion. Choosing the right travel partner is important, unless you want to end up with the travel partner from hell. Make sure you’re on the same page about budget, the types of activities you enjoy, preferred accommodation styles and how often you’re okay with doing things separate from each other to help ease conflict on the road.
How To Become A Non-Planning Travel Planner
There aretwo ways you can go about becoming a non-planning travel planner. The first – and scarier – option is to just do it. Literally, book a plane ticket to somewhere you’ve always wanted to go, get your visas and vaccinations and just show up. You’ll be forced to be spontaneous, and to see just what you’re capable of. And truth is, if you really hate the unplanned aspect of the trip, you can always spend a day in an Internet cafe booking hotels and tours for the remainder of the vacation.
The second option is to ease your way into it. Maybe on your next trip you pre-book your hotels but not your tours. Then, on the following vacation you can forgo both with only an itinerary of city names. After that, you probably won’t ever need it again. Another way to do this is to do an unplanned trip close to home. Go somewhere domestic or get on a train and go to a nearby city you’ve always been curious about, not making any plans but just letting yourself discover the area organically. Most likely, you’ll be surprised at how much you enjoy yourself.
While you’ll find no shortage of ethnic food festivals, craft beer shows and wine tasting events around the United States, sometimes it can be fun to do something a little out of the ordinary. For a bizarre yet delicious experience, attend these wacky food festivals around the country. Want to make your trip extra quirky? Add some of these roadside attractions to the itinerary, as well.
Waikiki Spam Jam Waikiki, Hawaii
Who wouldn’t want to take part in a celebration dedicated to canned meats? Judging by the 20,000+ attendees each year, it seems like there are quite a bit of dedicated Spam-lovers out there. Visitors can enjoy Spam burgers and Spam fried rice, as well as purchase Spam T-shirts and watch Spam dancers and Spam theater productions. While the festival is a bit unusual, it actually has some historical significance, as during WWII meats were in short supply, forcing Hawaiians to grow a love for Spam. In fact, according to Waikiki Spam Jam, Hawaiians eat more Spam than anyone else in the world. The fun festival also helps those in need, as money from the event is donated to the Hawaii Food Bank. Don’t be upset if you missed the 2012 edition, as you can start planning a trip to Hawaii to coincide with the 2013 festival on Saturday, April 27. Additionally, you can follow Waikiki Spam Jam on Facebook and Twitter.Yuma Lettuce Days Yuma, Arizona
Vegetarians and healthy eaters will love this festival, which celebrates locally grown produce and agriculture. Yuma Lettuce Days is an annual event that takes place each March, combining education, entertainment and a lot of vegetables. While the festival’s name makes it sound a bit bland, there are actually many exciting experiences to be found, like interactive salad bars, harvest dinners, wine and microbrew tastings, the world’s largest salad, a homegrown cooking contest, lettuce sculptures, cabbage bowling and more. You can attend next year’s festival from March 8 to 10, 2013.
Shroomfest Telluride, Colorado
This mushroom-centric festival features four full days of shroom-themed activities. Their mission is “to educate citizens, both visitor and local alike, about the many incredible aspects of the amazing world of mycology.” Attendees can immerse themselves in mushroom forages, fungal lectures, live music in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains and, of course, live cooking demos and mushroom-infused meals. Shroomfest is an annual tradition, and this year from August 16 to 19 will mark the event’s 32nd year.
Cheese Curd Festival Ellsworth, Wisconsin
Ellsworth is the “cheese curd capital” of Wisconsin, so of course, it is only logical to hold their annual Cheese Curd Festival there. Celebrated every year since 1984, the festival boasts 6,000+ visitors each year. The focus of the event is the curd eating contest, where kids and adults race in heats to shove either a quarter or half pound of cheese curds down their throats. The prize? Ten dollars and a trophy. Attendees can also enjoy live music, fun runs, crafts, games and more. If you’re interested in indulging in some cheese curd goodness, the 25th annual Cheese Curd Festival will be held May 31 to June 3, 2013.
The International Rutabaga Curling World Championship Ithaca, New York
The International Rutabaga Curling World Championship may sound bizarre, but it’s an annual tradition that marks the end of the market season in Ithaca. Attendees can see the offbeat sport as well as hear the melodic rutabaga choir. The town has been playing with rutabagas since 1996, although the first official Rutabaga Curl was in 1998. Moreover, around December when the event takes place, rutabagas are the only vegetable left in the market. And, nobody wants to eat them.
Turkey Testicle Festival Huntley, Illinois
What started over 30 years ago as a joke has blossomed into one of the most traditional yet oddest festivals in the United States. The Turkey Testicle Festival is not a play on words, but actually cerebrates the nether region of the turkey. Around Thanksgiving each year, people flock to Parkside Pub to chow down on batter-fried turkey testicles while enjoying cold beers and live music. The event boasts 4,000+ attendees, as the pub makes over 1,000 pounds of turkey testicles each year. Moreover, the $10 admission charged at the door goes to helping local charities.
Bug Fest Raleigh, North Carolina
Put on by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, BugFest is all about educating and fascinating. While there are presentations, roach races, Q&As, street fairs and exhibits, the “main course” of the event is Café Insecta, where visitors get their own taste of entomophagy. All dishes feature bug-infused recipes created by local chefs, so you’ll be helping the community while also heightening your sense of adventure.
Roadkill Cook-Off Marlinton, West Virginia
Before you start gagging, know you won’t be seeing any tire marks on your meal. This food festival focuses on wild game like deer, possum, squirrel, raccoon and other animals that are commonly squashed by cars. Some example entrees from past years include “Biscuits and Squirrel Gravy,” “Pulled BamBiTo under Saboogo,” “Deer on a Stick” and “Rigor Mortis Bear Stew.” The event takes place annually in September, with this year’s Roadkill Cook-Off being held on September 29, 2012. Some highlights will include a Possum Trot 5k, a welcome ceremony of Mr. and Mrs. West Virginia Roadkill (elected at a prior pageant), tasting and judging of roadkill recipes, harvest games, a dog show and more. Click here for the full schedule.
RC Cola And Moonpie Festival Bell Buckle, Tennessee
The RC Cola and Moonpie Festival happens annually on the third Saturday in June. Here you’ll find a craft fair, 10-mile run, bluegrass music, and clog dancers, as well as quirkier fare like deep fried Moon Pies, the cutting of the world’s largest Moon Pie, parades featuring people dressed up as RC Colas and Moon Pies, a Moon Pie toss, a watermelon seed spitting contests, a “Moon Pie Song Contest” and an RC dash where runners balance a full soda can on their heads.
Testicle Festival Clinton, Montana
While Illinois celebrates turkey testicles, Montana honors the balls of the bull. Also known as “cowboy caviar,” attendees can order the delicacy fried, boiled, sauteed or even raw. Held at the Rock Creed Lodge, the Testicle Festival draws over 15,000 people and requires over 2.5 tons of bull balls for a weekend of bizarre food fare, as well as crazy partying and debauchery. Quirky happenings include a bull-chip throwing contest, wet T-shirt and hairy chest competitions and even a game of bingo that involves a bull defecating on the game card. If you end up drinking a little too much of the event’s signature beer, Bull Snort Brew, party-goers can camp at the lodge or take the free shuttle. You’ll have so much fun attending this event, you may leave drunkenly babbling their motto: “I had a ball at the Testicle Festival.”