Unbelievable Tales and Facts from the World of Travel and Tourism

Mark Twain loved to travel and once said “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth…” From the enlightening words of Mark Twain, who … Continue reading Unbelievable Tales and Facts from the World of Travel and Tourism

Weirdest Tourist Attractions

In the USA, one of the weirdest tourist attractions is the “Salvation Mountain” in California, which is an outsider art installation created by Leonard Knight. The mountain is made entirely out of adobe clay and straw, and is painted in bright, vibrant colors with religious messages and Bible verses. Despite its remote location in the […]

Nellie Bly’s Journey

Nellie Bly, a female reporter, successfully recreated Jules Verne’s famous novel “Around The World In 80 Days.” In 1888, she proposed to her editor at the New York World to undertake a journey around the world, making Verne’s fictional story a reality. On November 14, 1889, with two days’ notice, Bly boarded the Augusta Victoria […]

People Explain Which Unwritten Rules They Always Abide By

Standards for a life well-lived will obviously vary for everyone.

Though the internet will tell you there’s a few simple rules to follow—Don’t be a dick, Support one another, etc…—there can be those unspoken laws which you live your life by that no one else follows.

The silent credo you keep in your mind, guiding you towards being the best version of yourself.

Most of the time.

Self-preservation also seems to be a common theme among these rules.

Reddit user, Embarrassed_Age_8463, wanted to know what lifestyle rules to follow when they asked:

“What is an unwritten law you abide by ?”

You Live In A City, So Act Like It

“When walking in a busy part of the city or transit hub go with the flow of foot traffic, even if you’re lost, don’t abruptly stop. Step to the side where it’s convenient for everyone else, not just you!!” ~ VincentVanGoghst

Everything Gets Kept And Nothing Goes Away

“Assume anything you tell anyone will be repeated!” ~ Appropriate-Rough563

“To build on this, assume anything you put in writing could be read in front of a jury. Paper, text, email? Imagine what you’re about to hit send on gets read aloud to a courtroom before you hit send” ~ AdjNounNumbers

It’s Not That Hard

“Always let the people on the elevator get off before you get in.” ~ littlemisspuppy

“Same for buses” ~ vrettossss

“And trains.” ~ EmeraldMoose12

“And airplanes” ~ wessoflo

“Those people who stand right in the f-cking doorway when I’m trying to get off the bus make me so goddamn mad I’m scared one day I’m just gonna snap and shove them on their ass.” ~ SpookyVoidCat

Protect Your Kids

“Don’t let your kids be a nuisance to other people when in public. I’m not talking about babies and toddlers, but kids running around in restaurants or going ham kicking plane seats.” ~ Grumblegrumblehiss

“Not even just for others’ sake, but for their sake, too. I worked in a restaurant, and some parents would just let their toddlers and sh-t wander around while they stayed seated at their table. I remember when I found a 3-4 year old waddling around a room away from his mom in a packed restaurant and almost lost my mind.”

“I can’t tell you how many times my instinct to swoop them up and scold the parent/s almost took over, but I had to remain professional. I don’t mind a little rowdiness, but for the kids’ sake, stop being inattentive.” ~ MyLifeHurtsRightNow

Start High. Be Ready To Rescind. 

“Respect is given”

“Disrespect is earned” ~ Rocky1963

“I agree that respecting someone as a person should be given. But people shouldn’t expect you to “respect their authority” just because their old or in a position of power. That type of respect needs to be earned.” ~ xxx148

It Makes So Much Sense

“Rechts stehen, links gehen.”

“Which is the German term for our unwritten rule that when you use an escalator, you use the right side if you want to just stand around and take a chilled ride, and that you use the left side if you’re in a hurry and want to speed up the ride by additionally walking up-/downwards.”

“They tried to officially abolish it in Munich, but we aren‘t having it. We Germans love our escalator rules.” ~ freakinandout

“London has this too, and as an American, I love it. When I go to the malls here, it makes me sad Americans don’t tend to follow the same idea” ~ olympusarc

Be Aware Of Your Surroundings

“If they didn’t extend an invite, I don’t ask to come. I know a few people who unknowingly try to intrude on trips/activities in situations it’s obvious that they 100% should not” ~ Burdturds

“Same. However, the flip side is don’t talk about group activities in front of people who aren’t invited.”

“Obviously, there is a difference between something coming up briefly and discussing it at length. “I’ll see you at the show next week.” Is different from “I can’t wait to go to the show next week. What are you wearing?” The second one is rude to do in front of people who aren’t invited.” ~ Zula13

Listen To People Who Show You Who They Are

Don’t trust anyone who backstabs others in front of you” ~ Hoxtoful

This was kind of a big thing in the military. There’s this presence of the idea that we’re all best friends and brothers and sisters and inseparable and will die for every one around us. I literally can’t count the number of guys I’d see hit the pier overseas and take their rings off then head into town.”

“Same guys would blow all their money, then come back to the ship asking for loans, “we’re boys right?!?!”. No dude, your own wife can’t trust you. I don’t believe a f-cking thing you say.” ~ aDrunkSailor82

What Kind Of Moral Character Do You Possess?

“Put the f-cking cart in the f-cking cart return like a decent human being.” ~ Whatsa-Throwaway

There’s actually a shopping cart theory: ” The theory posits that the decision to return a cart is the ultimate test of moral character and a person’s capacity to be self-governing.” ~ MrEvetbody

Appreciate Your Fans, Confuse Your Enemies

“Always say thank you and please , even to asshole people, it works like a sarcasm to them . Edit 1 – Thanks everyone for the upvotes.” ~ _Virtual-Life_

“Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #76: Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.” ~ AzraelleWormser

If Only Everybody Followed This

“Be kind if at all possible” ~ Basic_genXer

“Practice random acts of kindness when you are able to.” ~ Newstargirl

“But don’t brag about it. If it comes up in conversation that’s fine but I know someone who puts everything on Facebook for the likes” ~ SnooCapers9313

Be Honest With Yourself

“The real you is who you are when nobody is watching” ~ Unicorn_Boots

“But that doesn’t matter to anyone. In other people’s reality, the only ‘you’ they know is the one you show them.” ~ XxuruzxX

Do your best to stick to the unwritten laws you’ve set up for yourself.

It can only lead to success and a peaceful life.

People Talk About the Statement, “Travel Culture Is Another Form of Flexing”

You know you have some people like this in your life…

They have a ton of money, they’re always traveling to amazing places, AND they’re constantly posting pictures of their adventures.

And some of these folks can be really shallow…you know it’s true!

Do you think travel culture is just another form of flexing and doesn’t make people any more enlightened?

Let’s take a look at how AskReddit users responded.

1. Here’s the deal.

“Many bash those who waste a lot of money on materialistic goods or who like activities that are considered “shallow”, like clubbing and partying.

Meanwhile, “traveling” is often portrayed as the enlightened way to pass your time. Of course there is nothing inherently wrong with traveling, but I disagree that people who travel a lot are automatically any less shallow than those who go clubbing or buy a lot of stuff.

First of all, “travel culture” is a form of flexing. It has become less acceptable to brag about owning expensive stuff, so people now brag about their trips. Especially on Instagram, it is obvious that many use their travels to flex and show us how “superior” they are.

“Traveling” doesn’t make you an enlightened intellectual in any way. I could maybe understand this argument 30 years ago but nowadays, anyone can find any information they want about any place they like.

They can use the Internet to explore a country, without traveling there and contributing to its destruction. (tourism can be very bad for the environment)

Also, people have fun with different things. Maybe someone thinks that buying a PS5 is more fun to them than going on some stupid trip. That is their business and their choice is not inherently inferior.”

2. Great experiences.

“I am an introvert but one of my best experiences was like, I am buying a ticket from London to Brazil…. Total bliss!

I absolutely love getting to know places on my own and meeting the locals. I have had a lot of fun travelling on my own. Met great people.”

3. A competition.

“I was really interested in this girl that traveled a lot and I travel a lot for work so I thought maybe we had something in common.

When I found out that all she does is get a $30 Airbnb to sleep somewhere for the night and then go to the next place just to mark it on her passport but never actually enjoys any of the places, I definitely said pass pretty quickly.

I was wondering what the hell is the point of traveling that much if you’re not enjoying any of it. It was like she was on this competition to check in on Facebook to as many places as possible and then used that in all of her conversations to try to act like she was better than everyone else.”

4. Let’s go a bit further.

“Taking this point a bit further, traveling to do the same activities everyone and their mother does aimed at tourists isn’t enlightening

Traveling becomes enlightening when you explore the culture, mingle with locals, try their traditional food.

That’s not something you can google or check online, it’s something you experience.”

5. Street cred.

“Tinder and Hinge in my 30s is at least 50% women with only pictures of travel, and their desires are travel, and the profile describes how they are the traveliest traveler that ever traveled.

I’ve traveled for work and vacations. It is not my personality. It really does look like gaudy flexing to me.

The ones that really irritate me are the people who “vacation” to oppressive dictatorships and dangerous areas like warzones for the traveler street cred.

It’s like being some kind of weird upper-middle class adrenalin junkie.”

6. Never heard that term before.

“My husband calls these people “globe f**kers”.

As someone who has lived and travelled in many different countries because of my work, I’m hyper paranoid about sounding like a pretentious a**hole when I talk about my experiences.

Being well travelled is not a personality trait, but the worst have to either be the people who “backpacked” (drunkenly stumbled thru 3 countries for a month) and talk about it for the next 15 years.

Or the volun-tourism crowd who think they really made a difference during their 2 weeks at an orphanage in a country they dont speak the language, or building houses with zero skills.”

7. The straight dope.

“The benefit is really only for people that pay attention and keep an open mind.

My family has some very devout Mormons in it, and a weird Mormon thing to do is to spend at least a few hours at exotic temples when in the area. My aunt and uncle went to Italy a couple years ago and literally spent two days at the Mormon temple there, in which they play dress up and watch the same Adam and Eve movie as they do at their temple in the US.

I’m sure they still did a few cool things, but I think that perfectly highlights a bit of an oblivious emotional distance from their destination’s culture, and I really think they miss out on the beauty of it by having such a cursory and perfunctory approach to travel.

I can’t deny that people over romanticize it and it can become a classist bulls**t flex, but when you get to go to a new place and see the world a little differently or understand their way of life a bit better, I think it can improve your own worldview and increase empathy….but you gotta actually get out there and pay attention to it all.”

8. Don’t show off.

“Finally having the ability to do some limited travel has really opened my eyes to the rest of the world in a way the internet never could.

I’m in my late 40s now, and I know it’s expensive, but I wish Americans traveled internationally more. We’re so much smaller than we think, and no amount of internet can showcase that in the same way actually staying in a foreign country can.

I think your issue is not with travel but with the way some people talk about travel or show off on social media.”

9. A good thing.

“Maybe it’s a flex for some, but there’s is no substitute for seeing and experiencing the world for yourself.

It does change you and reading about it isn’t the same by a mile.”

10. Just fantastic.

“I think traveling and exploring the world is a fantastic way to spend your fleeting life.

I have made it a point to travel frequently and to some pretty awesome places. I don’t even have Instagram and only take pictures of animals and landscapes. For me, it’s mostly for the food and different species of animals, because that’s what Im into as a biologist.

My favorite was the Peruvian Amazon. 7 monkey species, macaws, all kinds of snakes. You can see them in books, but there is no substitute for in person.”

11. What’s the motivation?

“Saying “I like traveling” is the same as saying “I like reading” – it tells you nothing about the person unless you ask more questions and ask them to elaborate.

Someone who says “I like reading” but only reads books like “Twilight” or “50 shades of grey” is different from someone who reads history books or specific books about their interest – space, chess, math, you name it.

Someone who says “I like traveling” but only goes to Thailand or Bali to party and drink for 2 weeks is not the same as someone who cycles around the world for 6 months, or crosses half the world on a boat, or backpacks through Africa staying in villages and connecting with local people.

These are all different experiences. One of them is definitely more enlightening than the other. One is about just having fun without improving yourself as a person while the other one is more likely to give you some “food for your brain”.

The important part is the motivation behind these activities. Why does the person travel? Some travel for parties, other travel for sports (surfing, diving, kayaking etc), others travel for nature (hiking, camping), other travel for volunteering (helping with wild life conservation, preservation, beach cleaning), other travel for the cultural exchange (teaching kids in remote villages English), some travel for their own education (taking Spanish lessons in Bolivia).

Some people combine several of them (personally that’s what I do). There are many reasons to travel. If you think that every traveler is the Instagram traveler you are just stupid and shallow which is pretty sad actually.”

12. From a travel industry worker.

“I used to work in the travel industry and dealt with numerous ‘country counters’ (people who are trying to visiting every country in the world).

It felt like the majority of them were mindlessly trundling around the world, ticking off countries as if it was simply something to consume. If that’s not sad enough, some of these country counters even compete with one another using league tables or try to bolster their reputations by marketing themselves as the first *insert s**uality, insert gender identity, insert race, insert social class, insert nationality, insert whatever* to visit every country in the world.

I can tell you now, despite what these people like to think there’s no skill in visiting a s**t-load of countries for sightseeing. It’s not an achievement and nor is it remarkable. All that’s required is money, competent travel agents and local fixers.”

What are your thoughts about this topic?

Talk to us in the comments and let us know.

We’d love to hear from you!

The post People Talk About the Statement, “Travel Culture Is Another Form of Flexing” appeared first on UberFacts.

Hotels and Foster Dogs Are a Match Made in Heaven

As fun as it can be to travel, being away from home can be hard, as well.

So hotels try to do things to make you feel as comfortable as you would be at home:
Free wine in the lobby, hot popcorn. Cookies.

But one hotel in Mississippi is going the extra mile to make its guests feel welcome–and to help out the local canine population too.

The Home2 Suites by Hilton located in D’Iberville, Mississippi, just north of Biloxi, has been piloting a program called “Fostering Hope” since 2018.

Together with the Humane Society of South Mississippi, the hotel helps dogs find their forever home.

One at a time, each lucky doggo gets to visit the hotel.

 

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Dog friendly guests are invited and encouraged to interact with the dogs.

According to Mental Floss:

They can take the dog for a walk and feed them during their stay. They’re even allowed to bring the pet into their hotel room overnight.

So far, more than 60 dogs have been adopted since Home2 Suites began fostering them in October 2018.

 

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It’s a brilliant plan! People don’t even know they want a dog, until they fall in love with a specific dog.

They don’t even know they have room for a dog, until it’s too late because the dog has already taken up residence in their hearts.

These people know what they’re doing.

Who can say “no” to these faces?

 

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Since 2018, the program has been a huge success.

In their first year, they found homes for about 30 dogs.

And things may have slowed a little due to the pandemic, but Home2 Suites aren’t deterred.

They’re looking to roll out this program in more locations across the US soon.

 

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If you’re not planning on visiting Biloxi any time soon, you can still check out some of the eligible fur-babies on the Humane Society’s Instagram @HumaneSocietyOfSouthMS.

And if doggos aren’t really your thing, they have gorgeous kitties available for adoption too!

 

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What do you think about this program? Would it make you book a room at Home2 Suites on your next trip?

Tell us in the comments!

The post Hotels and Foster Dogs Are a Match Made in Heaven appeared first on UberFacts.

Enjoy These Stone-Cold Facts About Iceland

Iceland seems to have really amped up as far as popularity in recent years. Everyone advertises reasonable plane tickets, or maybe it’s more that we worry that the colder parts of the world are going to disappear at some point, but I don’t know.

I think it’s just beautiful, and the global nature of our society these days has brought our attention to attractions we might not have ever imagined visiting before, and that’s not a bad thing.

If you’re thinking about visiting Iceland and want to know more, here are 16 cool facts!

16. They actually grow bananas.

Image Credit: iStock

Iceland is actually home to the largest banana plantation in Europe, though technically, Spain grows more in the Canary Islands.

The Icelandic Agricultural University grows between 1,100 and 4,410 pounds of bananas using geothermal energy every year.

15. You won’t be able to grab a Big Mac.

Image Credit: iStock

There used to be McDonald’s in Iceland, but the last one closed in 2009.

Right before the last location closed there, an Icelander bought one last meal – 10 years later, it still looks fresh.

14. There’s a word for an ice cream road trip.

Image Credit: iStock

If you really love ice cream, take an Ísbíltúr – you jump in the car, driver around, and grab ice cream along the way.

And no, it doesn’t have to be hot. Ice cream tastes delicious any time of the year.

13. Your baby’s name has to be approved.

Image Credit: Pexels

To stop people from giving their children truly ridiculous names, parents must choose from an official register of approved names.

If you want to step outside the box, you have to request permission from the “Naming Committee.”

12. You can visit a museum dedicated to penises.

Yes, really.

It’s called the Iceland Phallological Museum and boasts 200 “penises and penile parts” from a wide assortment of animals.

And in the immortal words of Forrest Gump, “that’s all I have to say about that.”

11. You can attend the Elf School.

Image Credit: The Elf School

Elves have a long tradition in Iceland, and if you want to know more about them and their interactions with humans, you can attend Reykjavík’s Elf School.

One local study concluded that over 62% of Icelanders believe elves might be real, and some of them even build “elf homes” into the landscape.

10. They elected their first female head of state in 1980.

Image Credit: Nationaal Archief

Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, a divorced single mother, was elected president of Iceland in 1980.

That makes her the first female elected head of state anywhere in the world. Boom.

9. They once elected a comedian as their mayor.

Image Credit: Matt Riggott

Comedian Jón Gnarr ran as a joke, but was surprised to actually be elected as mayor of Reykjavík.

He served faithfully and well for four years, though he did have to back out of his campaign promise of adding a polar bear to the local zoo.

8. It’s home to over 130 volcanoes.

Image Credit: Berserkur

Only roughly 30 of the volcanoes are active currently, though Fagradalsfjall, a long-dormant volcano on the outskirts of Reykjavík, has erupted fairly recently.

7. If you spend Christmas there, you’ll likely receive at least one book.

Image Credit: iStock

There’s a tradition there called Jólabókaflóð, which translates to “Christmas book flood” and involves gifting books on Christmas Eve and then snuggling up to read while you wait for Father Christmas.

It goes over well in Iceland, which publishes more books per capita than any other country in the world.

6. But you do get gifts for 13 nights instead of 1.

Image Credit: iStock

Well, at least you would if you were a child.

Children who put a shoe on their windowsill receive presents from the 13 “Yule Lads” on the nights leading up to Christmas, though the “naughty” kids will receive only rotten potatoes.

5. Your baby would sleep outside, no matter the temperature.

Image Credit: iStock

Not like, overnight or anything, but for sure during nap time.

Parents in most Nordic countries believe that abundant fresh air helps baby sleep and also prevents bothersome illnesses.

They do get blankets and stuff, so don’t worry.

4. It would take less than a day to circle the entire country.

Image Credit: Debivort

It would take 17 hours to drive a loop around the entire country.

The Ring Road does the 828-mile loop, though the sights are too pretty for most people to even think about doing it in one day.

3. Their hotdogs are to die for.

You’d think it would be something more exotic-sounding, but hey – who doesn’t love hotdogs?

If you do, you’ll want to check out the hot dog stand called Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur in Reykjavík.

They’ve been in operation since 1937 and their hotdogs are made from lamb and served topped with remoulade (Icelandic mustard), fried onions, raw onions, and Icelandic ketchup.

Yum!

2. You can take a once-in-a-lifetime swim.

There’s a rift called Silfra, located in the Thingvellir National Park, and it’s the only place in the world where you can take a dip between two tectonic plates.

As a bonus, the water is so clear that both the diving and the snorkeling are amazing, so suit up while you’re there.

1. You will never accidentally date your cousin.

Image Credit: iStock

Iceland is a small, really homogenous island, and though the people there are super happy, they also have a higher chance of being genetically related.

A group of college students started an app called ÍslendingaApp that lets people find out whether or not they’re related to a potential date before they run into each other at the next family reunion.

That’s definitely a case of making technology work for the better, wouldn’t you say?

I’m feeling smarter than every, and also I’ve really got an itch.

I have you been to Iceland? Tell us about your visit in the comments!

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