5 places in the world you won’t believe that exist

While visiting some exotic countries, it is sometimes smart to look beyond your stay at luxurious and comfortable hotels. Sometimes, the real spirit of the country can be seen in places that are usually not very popular among tourist groups. And sometimes it can be so hidden, we might never guess that it actually exists!

So today, let's open the curtain of five places around the globe that are so forgotten by many tourists groups and companies, you might be hearing about them for the first time in your lives. But that does not mean that these places are some kind of wrong or ugly. In fact, they are really breath-taking and worth visiting for sure! After reading the article, definitely don't forget to find a nice website to book cheap hotels too, so your traveling around the globe can be even more fun and enjoyable! 

A little life in a place of death



It is not surprising to say that the hottest and driest point on the Earth can be found in Africa, the Namibian desert. But what is interesting about this place is the fact, that this land of death is not so empty. In fact, in the merciless sun-baked Sossusvlei salt land grow some trees, which, to be fair, do not have abundant foliage.

To stay here for a longer period of time is not recommended, but even those few minutes spent will be remembered for long. The white salt surface is overspread with pink dunes and framed with beautifully blue sky that creates a beautiful contrast. So don't forget to bring your camera too, since this desert looks very photogenic in pictures too.

In the skeleton coast - skeletons and peace

In ancient times, this place was called the Hell's coast. Also found in Namibia, it will take your breath away with its super strong winds and a coast full of dozens of shattered ships.

In the beach, you can not only take a look at the sand dunes, but also check out a lot of wooden and metal debris too. Moreover, some time ago on this beach, twelve mysterious headless skeletons were found, making this coastline, one of the scariest ever. Probably, because of that this place is not very loved by tons of tourists., Hence, if you are not afraid of horrific local legends, go on and enjoy some peacefulness and tranquillity – this place is perfect for you. Visitors are seen very rarely in here!

From the desert dunes to a refreshing lake


If one day you get lost in the desert in Peru, and see many trees and houses surrounding a small body of water – don’t panic. It is not a mirage – you are likely to have come across the Huacachina oasis, which is slowly becoming a resort town.

To be fair, this oasis is pretty popular among snowboarding enthusiasts. But not that ordinary ones, since here is no snow. Snowboarders actually slide down the huge sand hills, so here there is no need to protect yourself from the cold winter wind as well.  Moreover, the oasis is just five hours away from the Peru’s capital city of Lima, so while you visit this country, you can visit both of these places, and can kill two birds with one stone!

Blood-colored Weed Beach

Every fall in China, around the city Panjino, the view starts to change. The entire 26-kilometer-long riverside beach turns red, because of one of a kind weed growing in this place.

Although visitors can walk only on narrow wooden tracks overhanging above the ground, you can still enjoy the stunning view of a gorgeous red horizon full of thousands of migrating birds. This place will offer one of the most magical days of your lifetime, and your selfies will look stunning here too.

Pink algae and salt lake



We are used to enjoying the crystal-clear waters of lakes and perfect beaches, but Senegal’s most popular Lake Retba is nothing like that at all. It is actually pink! This unusual color is due to an unique type of algae living in the bottom of the lake. The beauty of this lake is in its different shades of pink that vary with the rays of the sun. Nature can’t get any prettier than this.

The lake is pretty salty, so just like in the Black or Dead sea, you can jump and swim in it without any additional safety gear at all. So you trip to the Pink Lake can be even more amazing since you will get a chance to swim in it too.

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Travel Photo: Trishaws of Macau

Macau is associated with money, luxury and gambling. And to a lesser extent, its rich Portuguese culture. However, within all of this and something that you don’t normally associate with a casino destination are the Trishaws of Macau. This archaic mode of transport can be seen standing in front of the casinos and five star hotels in resplendent yellow colours.


Each of these trishaws have a menu at their disposal that tourists can refer to see which area of Macau they want to explore. To give you an idea of the menu, it has packages to the strip clubs of Macau, the happening night clubs, the busy casinos, the historic sites and much more. These trishaws or tricyclos are ideal for those who wish to explore this vibrant city at leisure and then step into the happening nightlife spots of this casino city.

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Travel Photo: Yellow Lanterns at Taipei’s Longshan Temple

This is possibly one of the oldest temples in Taipei. It is also a place where you will definitely find the spiritual vibe during the early morning and early evening hours. This is the famous (Mengja) Longshan temple in the Wanhua district of Taipei. This temple worships a mixture of Buddhist, Taoist and folk deities like most temples in Taiwan and showcases beautiful Taiwanese classical architecture with southern Chinese influences.


And after you have explored your spiritual self, you can listen to your growling stomach and sample one of the many night markets located close to the Longshan temple. Taipei has such a night eating culture that you can keep eating all the way to your bed. But, irrespective of the night markets, if you are in Taipei and have seen the view from the top of Taipei 101, you have to visit this temple to see the fervor with which the locals pray here every day. Personally, I love it here.

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The Rise of the Chinese Traveler

If you have been traversing across the globe, you would have definitely noticed the rise of the Chinese traveler. These days, people from China seem to be everywhere. I mean not as immigrants, which is on the rise too, but more so, the Chinese travelers. Their numbers have increased so much that the entire travel community is creating a special China focus area in their business plan. You can see Chinese translators at key tourist hot spots and then you have all these travel companies and agents have their information lied out in Chinese. I have noticed this trend too and have in fact come in touch with many of them personally during my travels. I have put them into different buckets to help understand their true travel personalities.

The Super Rich Chinese Traveler
The entire world knows that 99% of the products they come in touch with is manufactured in China and hence it comes as no surprise that this has led to some of the Chinese people becoming super rich. To see the amount of money they have, walk into some of Macau’s casinos during a weekend and see bets worth millions of dollars being placed. These are travelers who don’t flinch at seeing the bill. They are out there to sample special destinations and don’t care how much it costs.

The Rich Chinese Middle Class Traveler
They wear designer labels and don’t flinch while swiping their card for a $10,000 watch in Hong Kong. They are the luxury traveler and can be seen in five star hotels in Kenya, Tanzania, Italy, Hawaii, Bahamas, Bali and other exotic destinations. They love to be pampered and indulge in massages, spa treatment and good food. Some of them speak English, while the rest speak Mandarin only. I hate to say this, but some of them are also very loud and rude.

The Large Chinese Tour Groups
There is no other country on the planet that travels in larger groups than the people from mainland China. I have personally seen 20 buses in Siem Reap and 200 tuk tuks in Thailand ferrying large groups of Chinese travelers. Generally, all these groups come with Chinese translators and tour guides. A lot of tour agencies in China cater to such kind of travelers who like to travel, but need their own flavor. These people love to stick to their kind and try and eat Chinese cuisine. They are middle aged to elderly people who seek a bit of luxury and comfort.

The English Speaking Young Chinese Backpacker
The younger generation of Chinese people either speak crisp American English or speak passable English. Their gadgets are like second skin to them. I think they are possibly the most obsessive users of social media in the world. They have been bitten by the backpacking bug and bitten real hard. They stay in hostels and do budget travel. They like to experiment. They break the ‘standard Chinese travel’ style and go out of the way. You will see them in places where you typically will only see die-hard European backpackers. They do both short vacations as well as gap years.

If you are a travel outfit and don’t have a China focus area, I advise that you re-look at your plan and think of the potential of a billion plus people with rising income and increasing travel appetites, but who prefer their own style of travel.

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Spending money wisely in Macau

Every time a traveler is in a flashy location, there is an urge to spend money. Every time there are more avenues to buy, people spend more money. And when this is coupled with casinos, money flows freely. That is the case with Macau. This country is such a lifestyle statement. It’s casinos make more money than Las Vegas and that is why all the leading casino brands of the world have an empire here.


And with China’s growing riches, Macau is just getting bigger and bigger. There are mighty big casinos and five star hotels, there are the leading fashion brands and then there is unlimited shopping. All of this ensures that the traveler is tempted to shell out a lot of money.


Sometimes it is the temptation to become one with Macau and play the part. For a while, this is a way to have a good holiday. But, if not kept in check, it could have a big drain on your wallet as living the Macau lifestyle is an expensive proposition. And when it comes to the casinos, we know how gambling makes people behave. The temptation to make more money is always there and to make some profits, people have been known to lose a lot if not all.


If someone is lucky and ends up on the positive side of the casino table in terms of profits, even they get controlled by the lust for more money or fame. They either end up placing the money in another bet or end up spending the money on lifestyle products or services. In sum, money is not earned, but spent. If you wish to keep your spending habits in check when you are in Macau, always use a credit card when possible with a pre-defined limit so that you can keep yourself in check. This will help you enjoy your Macau holiday while ensuring that you don’t have a financial heart attack when you return home after your holiday.

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Tarts, Cookies and more baked items from Macau

You are in Asia and attached to the People’s Republic of China. You are in one of the top gambling destinations of the world, but apart from gambling, tourists visit this country for two things. One, a dose of its Portuguese past and the other to taste its unbelievably good Portuguese baked items, which are a legacy left behind by the Portuguese.


And in line with this legacy, one can see a baking frenzy all over Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China, like Hong Kong. A one hour ferry ride from Hong Kong brings you here and a 10 minute bus ride brings you to the Portuguese old town where you can smell the goods before you see it. As you follow your nose, you end up crossing an unbelievably large number of bakery shops, some small and some really large. They are all doing brisk business as the baked items of Macau are a hot favorite with tourists and locals alike.


The tourists prefer to carry huge boxes of freshly baked cookies and crepe rolls as souvenirs from Macau after a round of tasting. But, if you just want to taste the goods and want to know the best one here, then it is undoubtedly the Portuguese Egg Tarts that are so yummy. The fresh and hot egg tarts are so good that you can just complete your entire meal with egg tarts. Apart from the egg tarts, you have to eat the egg baked rolls, the wafer thin crepe rolls and the excellent assortment of cookies that range from pecan nuts to walnuts to almonds and more.


Whatever you do in Macau, don’t miss out on sampling its excellent Portuguese baked items. If you do miss it, you have not visited Macau. If you want to know a reputed brand for sampling these goods, look up Koi Kei bakery, the largest and the most reliable chain in Macau.

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Guest Post: Bizarre Cuisine Served at Airports Around the World

Ever had a long layover and wanted a meal or even just a snack before your next flight? Some airports offer restaurants with fine dining and elegant meals that you can enjoy before your long journey so you won’t have to endure those uncomfortable hunger pains during your flight. Those same airports can also offer some of the most bizarre and possibly disgusting or greatest tasting food you have ever seen or tasted.

Picture walking into the food court of the Chiang Mai Airport looking for a delicious breakfast before your flight and being offered some scrumptious fried maggots! Yes, maggots. These tasty fried treats are something you can purchase to munch on to satisfy your morning hunger.


As weird and disgusting as this may sound maggots are actually a great source of protein and carbohydrates. So, despite being fried, they are actually good for you. They are also very commonly eaten in countries such as China, along with many other critters.


The Chiang Mai Airport is not the only airport that serves insects as a tasty snack. In fact, Typhoon restaurant located in the Santa Monica, California Airport has a section of their menu titled “Insects.” The section of the menu includes items such as:

Singapore-Style Scorpions served on shrimp toast.
Despite the horrifying appearance, scorpions are actually considered a delicacy throughout several locations in the world. In parts of Southeast Asia these little delicacies are skewered or fried and in Singapore they are served on slices of battered fish. In China scorpions are fried and served as a traditional dish from Shangdong, China. Shangdong is more commonly known in Chinese as Lu Cuisine, which is one of the eight culinary traditions of China. Shangdong is ranked among the four most influential of these. 

Taiwanese Crickets – crickets served over a Taiwanese stir fry with raw garlic, chilli pepper, and Asian basil.
Eating a cricket may not sound very appetizing; however it sure is a nutritional meal. According to The Food Insects News Letter, a single cricket contains 12.9 grams of protein, 5.5grams of fat, 75.8mg of calcium, and 9.5mg of iron. Crickets are also a very common food eaten in certain parts of the world. People from Kwara State, Nigeria, and other parts of West Africa have been known to eat crickets and many other insects. The crickets are collected from soil tunnels and then roasted over the fire for a delicious meal. Of course the guts are removed before the feast. Crickets are also commonly eaten in Taiwan, as the title of the dish states. Crickets, along with caterpillars are stir-fried or sautéed and served as a delicacy in Taiwan. 

Thai Silk Worm Pupae stir fried and served with hot and spicy dipping sauce.
Silk worm is another commonly eaten item is many countries around the world. China for instance serves silkworm pupae in many fancy restaurants. It is served with both the spicy dipping sauce shown here as well as a side of sesame seeds and salt. The Typhoon restaurant has been in the business of serving Pan Asian cuisine for over 18 years. The menu at Typhoon doesn’t just feature insects. There are over 70 dishes from the Pacific Rim to choose from.

The Changi Airport in Singapore houses a restaurant with a unique style. No insects are served here, however there are some rather distinctive desserts offered from Chinta Manis including:

Chendol Agar Agar - Made from Chendol and red beans in jelly form with a delicate layer of agar agar. To Americans this dessert would definitely sound bizarre. However, chendol is a very popular dessert in Asia, Thailand, and Singapore. It is made from coconut milk, thin green pandan flavoured noodles and palm sugar. Agar agar is a vegetarian gelatin substitute produced from a variety of seaweed vegetation.

Kueh Dadar – This is an egg delicate crepe with grated coconut and filled with palm sugar. This dessert is commonly referred to as coconut pancake rolls. Rightly so because it basically caramelized grated coconut filling inside a pandan flavour pancake skin. This is a very common dessert served in Malaysia, and can be homemade easily as well.

Durian Salat – This dish is made from fresh durian flesh with a base layer of steamed glutinous rice and coconut. Durian is a tropical fruit that is rarely seen outside of Southeast Asia. It is native to Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It resembles a coconut and it is infamous for its distinctive stinky smell. However, it is a sweet tasting fruit nonetheless. The durian is fruit of several tree species genus Durio and Malvacea family. It is widely known in Southeast Asia as the “King of Fruits.”

The desserts served at Chinta Manis are truly unique to Americans; however in Asia the ingredients used to put together these tasty treats are pretty common. Not all bizarre and strange food has to look or taste as bad as it may look.

About the Author of this post: Erica Gustafson is a freelance writer and consultant for Expedia. Erica loves to write about her experiences to other countries, people she has met and monuments she has visited.

Note: All images included in the articles have either been purchased by the author and the author owns rights to them or they are free pictures from an open source picture host.

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