What places are calling your name for 2012? Whatever your mood, Traveler magazine has a recommendation for you—from the romantic hills of Croatia to the perfect beach in Thailand.
Showing posts with label strange destinations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strange destinations. Show all posts
Tokyo's gigantic flood prevention system
World's Most Interesting Festivals
Throwing tomatoes at each other or running outside almost completely naked in the middle of winter might sound a bit insane, but there is a kind of unnatural (or natural?) need individuals have to get together and go crazy...at least once a year. Whether it is a spiritual event or a good way to express yourself, push the limits and have fun, the today's festivals turn into truly spectacular and showy celebrations.
Spectacular Mountain Railways in Europe
Constructed to conquer the Alps, link mountain resorts or transport coal, Europe's mountain railways are a great tourist attraction today. Our tour via the oldest and most spectacular mountain rail routes starts in Switzerland, which is undeniably the European leader in the railway industry. 1. The Glacier Express. Switzerland.
Route: Zermatt - St. Moritz/Davos. Length: around 300 km
Glacier Express leads through the Swiss Alps.
The Glacier Express will take you on a spectacular trip through the beautiful Alps. The railroad connects two Swiss resorts, Zermatt and St. Moritz (or Davos). The trip may seem a bit long as it lasts 7.30 hours, but it is never boring - it leads across 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels. The train goes really high - across Oberalp mountain pass it reaches the altitude of 2,033m.
Glacier Express leads through the aqueduct.
Most of the amazing route between Chur and St. Moritz was declared a World Heritage Site in 2008.
For the timetable, route tickets and rail passes check www.glacierexpress.ch
For the timetable, route tickets and rail passes check www.glacierexpress.ch
2. Zugspitze Bahn. Germany.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Zugspitzplatt. Length 11.5 km
Zugspitze Bahn in Germany.
Zugspitze Bahn is the cogwheel train that leads to the glacier situated just beneath the German highest summit, Zugspitze (2962 m). Zugspitze railway line was built in 1930's and to date it is considered a masterpiece of engineering thought.
The view over German limestone mountains.
The train passes the Eibsee lake where the visitors can admire the stunning view of the Alpine peaks of Austria, Italy, Switzerland and Germany. It continues to Riffelriss where the train dives into the 2 km long tunnel and then reaches the altitude of 2,600 m.
For timetable and fares check: www.zugspitze.de
3. Semmering Bahn. Austria
Gloggnitz - Mürzzuschlag. Length 41 km
One of the Semmering Railway bridges, Austria.
The Austrian Semmering Bahn is considered to be Europe's oldest mountain railway - it was built in mid 19th century by around 20,000 workers. The railway leads through 14 tunnels, 16 viaducts, 100 stone bridges and 11 smaller iron bridges - all set up in spectacular mountain scenery.
Semmering railway leads through 100 stone bridges.
According to UNESCO (that declared the railway a World Heritage site in 1998) the Semmmering Bahn is one of the greatest achievements of railway building in the earliest phase of railroad construction industry.
For timetable and fares check: www.semmeringbahn.at
4. Gornergrat Bahn. Switzerland.
Zermatt - Gornergrat. Length 9.4 km
Gornergrat Railway.
As many as 29 Alpine peaks can be admired from Gornergrat Bahn - the highest open-air cogwheel railway in Europe. The train leaves Zermatt and while climbing Gornergrat it passes numerous bridges and tunnels. After around 40 minutes it reaches 3089 m altitude, just beneath the Gornergrat peak. The route is believed to be one of the most scenic mountain trips in the Alps.
Gornergrat Bahn.
Last year, in 2008, the railway celebrated its 111 year anniversary. The construction of that historical line commenced in 1896, lasted two years and involved 2,400 workers.
For timetable and fares check: www.gornergrat.ch
5. Chemin de fer de La Mure. France.
Saint-Georges-de-Commiers - La Mure. Length 30 km
Dam at lake Monteynard.
If the French name of the railway appears to be too long, you can simply call it the Mure train. The railway was constructed between 1882 and 1886 and it was electrified in 1903.
The route leads thorough impressive mountain scenery dotted with viaducts, tunnels and a breathtaking dam at lake Monteynard (above).
The route leads thorough impressive mountain scenery dotted with viaducts, tunnels and a breathtaking dam at lake Monteynard (above).
La Mure train.
La Mure was designed to transport coal from the Matheysin Plateau to Grenoble. In mid-1970s the wave of railway closures hit France, but due to the oil crisis the authorities decided to keep the mining line for another 15 years. It had saved the railway that later became a great tourist attraction.
Graveyards Around the World
Throughout the history of human civilization, different cultures mourn and treat the dead differently. Some, like Tibetan Buddhists, have no use for burials as they dispose the dead by feeding corpses to vultures or by burning them in funeral pyres. Most cultures, however, show their respect by burying the dead, sometimes in complex and ornate tombs, crypts, and catacombs.
Best Backpacking Destinations
It goes without saying that backpacking is one of the most incredible, challenging and rewarding forms of traveling. Freedom, the scent of adventure, the sense of achievement - it all comes in a package, or, actually, a backpack. Whether you follow typical tourist routes or choose to stay off the beaten track, backpacking is a life changing experience for every independent traveler. Have a look at our selection of the best backpacking destinations for 2010 and choose your option for the days to come.
Most Beautiful Train Stations
We love trains because they are green, relatively cheap and fast. There's something more to traveling by train than just ecological and financial considerations though. It's the railway stations. Be it the Gothic historic complexes or ultra modern transportation hubs, these train stations will surprise you with not only stunning architecture and modern design but also with some little extras: a jungle, a champagne bar or a beach...
Strangest Museums on the Globe
Step off the beaten museum track and have a look inside the world's most bizarre, unique or quite freaky collections. From curried sausages and Napoleon's socks to the longest human parasite (yuck!), these museums display truly fascinating yet sometimes striking artefacts.
The Remotest Places For Lonely Traveler
Isolated, lonely, remote and hard to get to - such destinations have always tempted travelers with their beauty, magic and inaccessibility. Infinite steppes of Siberia or eternal glaciers of Greenland, though majestic looking, become less seductive when you picture living there permanently.
World's Strangest But Amazing Tourist Attractions
Have you ever tried to bathe in sound, sleep in a cave or venture into a radioactive zone? In fact, you don't need to have a very strange taste to go for some of these weird tourist attractions - just a little curiosity and a small portion of courage would be enough to wander through the dark mysterious catacombs of Paris or the Hindu temple filled with sacred rats.
Here are the world's most bizarre or unique tourist attractions:
Most Extreme Landscapes on Earth
Our globe is home to some truly breathtaking and extraordinary sights. Be it strangely-shaped rock formations, alien-looking sulfur springs or unique chocolate hills, the world is full of such beautiful phenomena that no words can describe it.
Pictures may help...
Huge Stone Mushrooms in the Village of Beli Plast, in Bulgaria
The village of Beli Plast in Bulgaria has a very specific natural phenomena. There you can find a huge stone mushrooms. There is a dozen of those strange looking ‘mushrooms’ in Beli Plast and they are limestone boulders. The largest of them is three meters height.
Czech Republic Skeleton Church
It is a very extraordinary Roman Catholic Church in the small quaint town that has gained reputation for having bones as organic decorations on the church ceiling, walls, archways, and practically anywhere.
Most Controversial Tourist Attractions in The World
Some say it's about facing the truth, others call it tasteless tourism. A moral judgment of people's travel choices is never easy and perhaps shouldn't be attempted. However, there are some places on the world's tourist map that really give us mixed feelings and can hardly be called "attractions".
Most Amazing Hot Spring's In The world
How many of you like bathing in hot spring? How many of you have been to the place listed below. Don’t miss them if you have a chance to see those amazing places.
The World's Most Remote Hotels
To get to the Bloomfield Lodge in Queensland, Australia, you must hop on a chartered plane, drive through the Outback, then cruise down a river. Then you'll find yourself in an oasis of beauty and solitude, in a hotel located in the Daintree Rainforest and right by the Great Barrier Reef. While there, you can hike through rainforests, swim in waterfalls, fish, sail and--at the end of the day--receive a well-earned massage. You'll be lucky to see another soul.
Incredible Natural Formations in The World
Whether you enjoy outdoor adventures or surf the great beyond from your computer chair, it’s easy for the human brain to see complexity and touches of man-made civilization in the impressive natural formations of our world. Our brains are wired to mistake culture when nature mimics man-made structures. From geometrical faces carved by the forces of nature to sleeping giants in the sea, here are the 18 strangest yet most amazing tricks of nature creatively mocking man’s design.
Most Bizarre Landscapes in The World
Sometimes, trips are remembered for experiencing something a little out of the ordinary. Urban landscapes and buzzing metropolises offer an interesting insight into a country's way of life, but delve a little deeper and you may just discover a side of the country seen by very few.
Bizarre toilet themed restaurant
How bizarre can theme dining get? Jail themed restaurants, hospital theme restaurants and toilet themed restaurants are so popular that it only shows that people flock to places which promise excitement. I found this Toilet theme restaurant in Taipei a bit too grotesque for my taste though the patrons may beg to differ. Enter the restaurant and you will find that the seating are made from toilet bowls.
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