Fancying something a little bit different for a holiday this year? At the time of writing, school holidays will be over soon, which means abroad holidays will no longer be so expensive again.
If you’re bored of that same Spain trip every other year or so, then let me introduce you to some of the weirdest tourist attractions from around the world. I can’t promise you’ll be inspired, but those with a sense of adventure might be in luck!
Karni Mata Temple, India
Image: Trip Advisor
India makes a very interesting visit if you’re able to get a tour there. There’s a lot of amazing temples to be seen that will immerse you in Indian culture. However, one of these temples is teeming with one of those most misunderstood animals on the planet.
Rats! It’s estimated to be home to 20,000 of them, and they’re seen as sacred by locals. These cute little rodents get a bad reputation, mainly due to wrongful accusations of causing the plague (humans did that themselves, rats just helped it spread). Not in Karni Mata Temple though!
Bubblegum Alley, California
Image: YouTube
I’m not sure whether this is stomach turning, or beautiful. San Luis Obispo is home to an entire wall that is covered in used bubblegum. It’s not just a small stretch either, it goes as far as 20 metres.
Some people seem to find it arty, and it attracts a lot of curious tourists. It’s up to you whether it’s worth going to see or not. Personally, I don’t think I could handle it.
Toilet Theme Park, South Korea
Image: Flushit
It’s the type of thing you’d imagine just to be really funny as a primary school child, but it turns out a toilet theme park is very much a reality in South Korea. The park was built to commemorate the city’s former mayor, as he dedicated a lot of time into improving the local area’s public toilet facilities.
Flying down a toilet themed water slide or whatever doesn’t sit right with me. Obviously it’s clean but… it’s just a bit mentally scarring when I think about it. I guess you’d get past it eventually though.
Inveraray Jail, Scotland
Image: ASVA
So this one’s a bit more tame, in the sense of it’s like a museum, but it’s still slightly strange. Inveraray Jail lets you explore how the prison worked when it was active, meaning you can visit cells, court rooms, and even talk to someone acting as a warden.
Not only that, but the building also sometimes sets up paranormal investigations at night time. So, if you’re not too bothered about how inmates were treated, then maybe a spot of ghost hunting could be for you?
Big Dog and Sheep, New Zealand
Image: Atlas Obscura
Certainly not like anything I’ve ever seen before. In the small town of Tirau resides a massive complex in the shape of a sheep. Okay, that’s weird. It’s not alone though, as there’s a huge dog next to it too.
There’s not a great deal to be said about these two monuments, apart from you can buy wool and take a look around the visitor centre. If you happen to be down south, why not go and take a look?
So, I may not have sold you on a brand new holiday plan, but at least you now know some of the more “interesting” and bizarre types of tourist attractions we have in this world. If you happen to be nearby any of these, why not give them a try?