Whether you love sitting back and watching the world unfold through a window, or whether you find journeying from one place to another a necessary evil of travelling, there are several modes of unusual transportation around the world that are sure to capture your attention!
You’re probably more than familiar with different bus, coach, train, and metro networks in a variety of different places, and have taken many plane rides and boat trips. You’ve likely used cars (even if as a passenger and not the driver), taxis, and bicycles countless times. You may have a scooter or motorbike license back at home and you might have rented one overseas. It’s possible that you’ve ridden on the back of one too. Even if you haven’t done any of these things, you will still have seen this type of transportation lots!
But what about some of the more localised types of getting around? Some types of transportation can seem quite unusual or bizarre to an outsider! Factor in some that are operated purely for the novelty value and transportation in some places can really become part of your overall experiences!
Check out these examples of unusual transport when in the relevant countries:
Jeepney, Philippines
Colourful, highly decorated, and difficult to miss, the jeepney is a really iconic means of transport in the Philippines. Used frequently by locals and often over-crowded, a ride in a jeepney at least once when in the country is almost a must-do!
Jeepneys came about after WW2, when lots of US army vehicles were left behind in the country. Local people took the jeeps and converted them into a useful way for regular people to get from A to B a lot easier than before. A roof was added to the jeeps, along with benches in the back, and so the jeepney was born! Bright colours and eye-catching decorations were added to make them look more appealing.
Today, jeepneys usually operate on set routes, and passengers hop on and off along the route as required. If you really want to experience all the fun of a jeepney ride you it is also possible to charter your own private hire vehicle to take you around exploring.
Songthaew, Thailand
A songthaew is a similar concept to a jeepney but nowhere near as colourful or attractive! A cheap way of getting around in Thailand, songthaews generally run on set routes, but can also be hired privately.
The name is a literal meaning of what they are – two benches! Songthaews are pickup trucks that have been converted into public transport. The driver sits in the front cab and the back has a roof, the back is dropped down, and two benches line the edges. It is also common to see two small grills at the back where excess passengers can stand if they wish!
In tourist areas it is not uncommon to find that there are luggage racks on the top.
Gorgeous and well-treated, huskies are very much part of the local transportation scene in the northern parts of Scandinavia. Working dogs as opposed to fluffy pets, teams of huskies pull sleds across the snow, transporting people and goods.
This type of transport is also common in other northern areas that have lots of snow and a very cold climate. Places include parts of Canada and the US state of Alaska.
Amphibious Vehicle, London
Okay, so this one is for sightseeing as part of a tour only, but it is still lots of fun! You can hit up the major sights of London by land and water, without needing to change vehicle! It’s easy to see why it is called the Duck Bus!
You’ll also find similar land and water combination vehicles in several other places around the world.
Others to look out for include the long Hong Kong street escalators, that carry people to numerous streets up the hill, and Tuk Tuks, Skylabs, Cyclos, and Rickshaws, common in various parts of Asia and beyond.
If you are planning to spend more than just a few days in Thailand’s fast-paced and lively capital city of Bangkok, there are some truly weird and wonderful sights and attractions to complement he popular historic and cultural sights that most people put at the top of their sightseeing lists. You may be wondering where to go after you’ve hit up the famous sights such as the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Khao San Road, Wat Arun, the malls, Chatuchak Market and so on, or you may be looking to explore a stranger side of the city. Don’t miss these bizarre Bangkok attractions to add something new to your time in the City of Angels:
Museums at Siriraj Hospital
There are six different museums within the complex, with three that are particularly odd, perhaps bordering on the downright weird and macabre! The strangest are the Pathology Museum, the Forensic Museum, and the Parasitology Museum.
In the Pathology Museum you can gaze in a mixture of horrified curiosity and revulsion at preserved deformed babies, learn more about killer diseases and those diseases that have almost been eradicated, and see numerous other pathological exhibits.
The Forensic Museum is just as creepy and gruesome, with displays of corpses that have met unpleasant ends. There are victims of fatal accidents and people who died from horrific diseases and illnesses, as well as the preserved bodies of some of Thailand’s most heinous and infamous criminals. The Parasitology Museum has specimens of particularly nasty-looking and dangerous parasites – it is certain to make your skin crawl!
The Human Body Museum
Staying on the creepy and macabre theme, the Human Body Museum is another bizarre place that will send shivers racing down your spine. It is located in Siam Square, a somewhat unusual place for such an attraction amongst gleaming malls and trendy shops! The museum is quite clinical and houses 14 dissected bodies. The bodies originally came from Japan and have been sliced open to educate people on the inner workings of a human being. It is rather fascinating once you get over the fact that you are looking at parts of what were once real live people – the clinical atmosphere helps to make it seem less gross though.
The Corrections Museum
Housed within a former high security prison for some of the country’s worst criminals, the Corrections Museum is another of Bangkok’s strange attractions. As well as being able to see the cramped and incredibly uncomfortable conditions that inmates were kept in you can also see a terrifying array of instruments that were used to torture and punish people. Items include sharp objects that were used to beat prisoners, sticks that were driven under people’s nails, small boxes in which prisoners were locked and left in the baking sun, and hooks from which people were suspended – by their jaws! If it could possibly get any more dreadful, you can also see large nail lined balls in which prisoners were locked – for the balls to then be kicked around by an elephant!
You will also see the various different ways that have been used to execute people throughout Thailand’s history, learn more about the day to day life of inmates and see things that were common within in the prison community, be surprised at the inventive ways people tried to smuggle items into the prison, and there are also lots of old photographs. On a lighter note, one part of the museum contains handicrafts and furniture that have been made by current prisoners from all around the country. It is possible to purchase some lovely and good quality home items.
Tuptim Shrine
Although you will see many shrines and spirit houses all around Bangkok, and indeed, all around Thailand, this one is likely to be a bit different to most that you see! You will find it within the grounds of the Swissotel Nai Lert and it is to honour and give respect to the spirit of fertility – Chao Mae Tuptim. The shrine is adorned with and surrounded by hundreds of phalluses in all colours and sizes! There are giant stone penises, tiny wooden carved organs, and everything in between!
Some other bizarre Bangkok attractions include the bustling Amulet Market, Shadow Puppet Theatres, the “David Beckham” temple, and Wat Mahabut with its shrine to Mae Nak Phra Khanong.
We’re super excited to host Travel Photo Roulette #67 – and we know that this week is going to be hilarious!
This week the theme is:
✈ TRAVEL FAILS! ✈
A ‘Travel Fail’ could be some sort of misfortune that’s happened to you, someone else or something inanimate – or something you’ve seen or read on your travels!
The scope for ‘Travel Fails’ is pretty big! Submissions could be along the lines of:
Safety Fails
Bridge/Safety fail
Crazy Signage Fails
Fart humour fail
Booze Related Fails
Full moon party fails
Hilarious English Fails
Menu Fail
Travel Photo Roulette – Contest Overview
The Travel Photo Roulette rotates through travel and/or photography blogs. The winner of the previous round of Travel Photo Roulette hosts the subsequent round on their own blog. The new host then chooses the next theme, a generic keyword or phrase, and players submit their interpretations of the theme over the course of the week of the contest.
At the end of the week, the hosting blogger chooses their favorite photo from the submissions and displays it as the week’s winning entry. They then include direction to the new host for the next round. Readers can attempt to lobby the author toward a certain photo via comments or the #PhotoRoulette hashtag on Twitter – the author can accept or ignore any lobby as they see fit. The game is repeated with the winner hosting the following week’s game and choosing a phrase for new photo submissions.
Entry Guidelines
One submission per blog (so sites that have 2+ authors only get one entry).
Post processing is permitted, but photo altering (ie. Photoshopping) is not.
Abstract submissions are welcomed as long as it fits within the interpretation of the chosen phrase. (Remember, the hosting blogger chooses the winner, so if they cannot understand the submission, you might not win!)
Please try and keep your images medium-sized and web-optimized (600-800px).
If you win, keep the following in mind when choosing a new theme:
Keep phrases general so that all bloggers can participate. Specific items like “Eiffel Tower” should be avoided but rather made open-ended like “monuments.” For variety, it is okay to say focused things such as “monuments at night” which most of us have pictures of. Phrases can be generic ‘signs,’ or abstract ‘religion.’
Abstract thoughts are appreciated, but keep it within the realm that all readers will understand. No “Kafka-esque”, or “Overlooking Creation”. Use something that is able to be interpreted by all.
After 1 year, phrases can be reused, however new photos must be submitted.
No obscene pictures or phrases allowed. Suggestive phrases and photography can be accepted, but please keep it within reason.
Keep the ideas and photos fresh!
Pictures from your entire portfolio are fair to submit. You do not have to take the photo within the week of the contest period to submit it.
Most importantly – All photographs must be your own!
One last rule, since this is a competition for travel and photography bloggers, you must have a travel/photography blog to enter. Sorry!
How to Submit Your Photos
To enter in the Photo Roulette competition just leave a comment below with a link to the image (whether Flickr, Picasa or your own site) so it can be uploaded to this post. Don’t forget to provide a brief description or caption for the photo so we can all get some background on what’s happening.
Check back here throughout the week to see all the entries as they come in and please feel free to comment on them! The contest runs for 7 days from today, with the submission dates being October 6th to Oct 13th. (No more entries will be accepted after 3pm GMT.)
The winner will be announced a few days after the deadline, and they will host Travel Photo Roulette #68!
Easy right?!
Spread the Word!
Tweet using the hashtag #PhotoRoulette and share this page with your friends on Facebook, StumbleUpon, Google +, or your favourite Social Media channel. The more the merrier!
Comments on photo entries are strongly encouraged! We need all the help we can get when it comes time to making the winning decision.
Please remember: –
Submit your entries by October 13th, 2013!
We can’t wait to see your hilarious Travel Fail photos and hear the stories behind them! 🙂
Past Photo Roulette Winners and Hosts
The following is a list of the previously played rounds and the hosting blogger for each round. As the game has been running for a few years now, a few of the winners are no longer blogging and the posts have since been removed from the list below. Click the host’s link to go directly to that entry to see some stunning photographs from the chosen term or phrase!
We were worried about the altitude in Peru and were willing to try ANYTHING to help with the side effects – but this was NOT a ringing endorsement:
Inside the Cusco airport we spotted a cure for the light-headed feeling and sleepiness that the low oxygen at high altitude can bring on, a booth with something called OxiShot. But wait, the clerk is out cold, must be the thin air.
You’re at one of the most famous landmarks in the entire world, and all you bring is a tablet with a crappy camera on it. A travel fail and one of my biggest annoyances of all. Although, I’ve now taken to like this photo a lot because of the photo-in-a-photo display.
I took this photo on the Big Island of Hawaii. I think there is a serious messaging problem with this sign. It seems to suggest that if there’s a tsunami warning, you should run downhill towards the ocean. Huh?
4. Jacomijn @ Jacomijn’s Travel Blog
In Laos I booked a VIP bus from Phonsavan to Paksan. The fact was that I booked this old bus, there was no other way because at some point in the journey the road ended and we went through the river!!!
While traveling by banka boat in the Philippines, the 1980′s motor on our boat broke and the propeller fell into the ocean. We drifted out to sea for over four hours until a fishing boat finally saw our make-shift help sign (an orange lifejacket on top of a long stick waving back and forth). No radio or lifeboat on board… FAIL. The photo shows our sad, broken down banka boat getting towed back to shore after hours of screaming and yelling for help.
The real fail came after we finally arrived at our destination 18 hours later (was supposed to be a 8 hour trip). We were asked by the driver for twice the agreed fare to cover the extra cost of gas. After a short debate, I placed the original agreed-on amount by his feet and got out of there.
When the driver of our support trunk on safari in Botswana cracked the truck’s frame, the decision was to take a stick they cut from a dead bush and a strap to tie it to the broken frame — like you’d splint a broken leg to keep it stable while you walked to the nearest town! Amazingly, it did get them there – luckily it wasn’t far.
It was taken in Miyajima in Japan. While I didn’t see anyone actually have this issue, I imagine they made the signs due to past travel fails. It is hilarious in my opinion. I have a post about the travel fails here.
We were worried about the altitude in Peru and were willing to try ANYTHING to help with the side effects – but this was NOT a ringing endorsement:
Inside the Cusco airport we spotted a cure for the light-headed feeling and sleepiness that the low oxygen at high altitude can bring on, a booth with something called OxiShot. But wait, the clerk is out cold, must be the thin air.
We cracked up when we first saw it, it’s such a good capture! She’s definitely not the best saleswoman out there!
So congratulations guys!!! We’re looking forward to next weeks Travel Photo Roulette!
During our stay in China, after we gave Guangzhou another chance we travelled to Wuzhou, some 7 hours north west of Guangzhou.
I’ll try and paint an accurate picture of Wuzhou. It’s a ‘small town’ by China standards with a population of about 3 million. It used to be a major transport hub during the British colonial rule due to it strategic location between Hong Kong and Guangzhou and its position on the Xi river.
Located in the Guangxi Province, most Chinese people haven’t heard of the place, so why would you?!
We visited Eloise’s brother as he teaches Engrish in main Wuzhou university, so we were staying right on the campus grounds in the thick of the weird action.
Here’s a few fun facts and some things to do Wuzhou!
Wuzhou has some amazing colonial architecture
Eloise admiring the architecture of the old quarter
The European settlers built a grand quarter in the ‘Old Town’ of Wuzhou. It’s pretty impressive and well worth an afternoon of your time. People still live there now in the buildings that survived bombings from the Japanese during war time.
Check out Wuzhou’s Main Square at night
Night-time equals communal exercises in the main square, with dancing, stretching and repetitive movements going down!
With the large majority of ladies turning out in a nice party-red colour, it’s an interesting and weird sight seeing everyone dance at the same time!
Explore the Night Markets
Want to see a few things you’re unlikely to see in Hong Kong? Check out some of Wuzhou’s nightmarkets! People look at your like you’re from out of space and you’ll get your picture taken several million times!
Future pet, or dinner?
People will literally stop in the middle of the road to look at you.
Apparently people come from far and wide to sample the delights of the Soya Milk restaurant. Going by the reaction of several hundred people in there when we walked in, they don’t get that many foreign visitors!
Unknown dessert!
Climb the Dragon Mother Temple mountain!
Me and Nathan at the top of the Dragon Mother Temple. Soaked in sweat. Head out early and hit the Dragon Mother mountain. See the petite Chinese ladies scramble over rocks and slopes with 6 inch heels on, and see elderly men and woman power past you on the way up the hill as you mop your brow in the insane humidity!
The view is pretty amazing at the top, just bring a towel.
You’re likely to be tricked into becoming a judge/VIP at several public events
VIP judges at a random event!
My advice, don’t agree to go along to any concerts, auditions, or performances unless you’re prepared to be pumped full of Chinese strength Red Bull, then pushed on stage to deliver a congratulatory speech to the winner in front of a hysterical crowd!
We were asked to be special guests at a children’s concert! They even paid us!
No one speaks English!
A very questionable menu! The only English we saw during our entire time in Wuzhou was this menu at a restaurant near the University! We’re lying. We saw some English in the new Wal-Mart shopping centre. About the skinned frogs on sale…
Your Chinese will improve dramatically!
We’ve been to very few places on our travels that speak zero English, which is good for forcing you to Learn Mandarin! It isn’t actually that hard once you get the tones right… honest!
So if you want a real off the beaten track adventure to a Chinese city that probably won’t feature in the China Lonely Planet for a while, check out Wuzhou!
It’s a days bus journey from Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong – Just make sure you get your destination written down before you hop on the bus or you’ll end up somewhere even stranger!
We were worried about the altitude in Peru and were willing to try ANYTHING to help with the side effects – but this was NOT a ringing endorsement:
