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Travel

Mysterious Destinations Around the World That Continue to Baffle Man

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Most of us love a good enigma and our planet has plenty of mysterious destinations that are eerie, surreal and defy all explanations that seem ordinary. While some of these mysterious destinations have an explanation, others are unsolved. From mystery rocks to spooky hotels to the home of the original Count Dracula, some of these places aren’t for the faint of heart. But for those who love a challenge, these mysterious destinations, albeit not accessible in some cases, might be a good subject to read on. Let’s take a look at these mysterious destinations.

Mysterious Destinations for those who love scary stories

Bermuda Triangle, Atlantic Ocean

Bermuda Triangle, Atlantic Ocean: No list about mysterious destinations would ever be complete without a mention of the Bermuda Triangle. Over the years, stories of lost mariners, disappearing ships and aircraft, even vanishing humans have been reported from the area that has now gained infamy as ‘Bermuda Triangle’. For centuries, these reports have added to the curiosity and mystery that surrounds the Bermuda Triangle. The vast area of more than half a million square miles is also known as the Devil’s Triangle. Some believe that there are magnetic abnormalities that throw compasses off course. Others offer more simpler explanations like tropical cyclones.

The Banff Springs Hotel, Canada

The Banff Springs Hotel, Canada: The hotel that inspired Stephen King’s chilling ‘The Shining’ and the movie of the same name by Stanley Kubrick, the Banff Springs Hotel, Canada is believed to be the creepy home of a number of ghost stories and strange events. Locals often tell visitors the story of strange noises and scary apparitions. The story goes that an entire family was murdered in cold-blood in one of the rooms of the hotel. Even others tell stories of doormen who appear as mysteriously as they disappear. If you’re still willing to spend a night here despite its scary reputation, then you really are in for a treat because there’s plenty for tourists to do besides getting scared by local ghosts.

Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania, Romania: Ever since Bram Stoker wrote ‘Dracula’, Transylvania, located in Romania has garnered a reputation for being scary. In all fairness, the stories of the man who actually inspired the best-selling novel is as scary as the novel itself. Bran Castle with its turret-topped citadel looks menacing from the forests on the edge of Wallachia. The entire region with its echoing church bells, misty mountains and the eerie looking Gothic towers and gargoyle peppered roofs all add to the menacing look of the place. The region has garnered a bad reputation thanks to real and reel life villains.   Vlad the Impaler, the most cruel and blood-thirsty of the Wallachian kings is one of them. His cruelty was well-known and when Bram Stoker wanted to write a scary story, he didn’t have to look too far. Count Dracula, the ancient vampire from his horror novel, ‘Dracula’ was inspired by Vlad the Impaler himself.

Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan, India

Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan, India:  The Bhangarh fort in Rajasthan is one of the most mysterious destinations in India. The region is said to be so scary that all kinds of night-time travel has been banned here for so many years. Enfolded by the Aravali Hills and located in the scorching sands of Rajasthan, the ancient walls of the Fort tell a tragic story of a cursed princess and the sorcerer who was enamored by her. Stories say that the sorcerer, Sinhai tried to capture her by offering her a mystery potion but the plan backfired and in his dying breath, he cursed the inhabitants of Bhangarh. Today, this fort is one of the most haunted places in India. No one is allowed to enter after dark and there have been deaths because of the mysterious curse.

The Tower of London, England

The Tower of London, England: While the Tower of London might not actually be a mysterious destination, it is quite haunted. Not surprising when you look at the history of the tower. The stories of haunting and strange events began with the sighting of Thomas Becket who is said to have prevented the extension of the palace after his death. The most popular ghost here would be the most famous woman of ancient England, Queen Anne Boleyn herself. Tourists have spotted her headless body lurking at the spot where she was killed on the orders of her late husband, King Henry VII in 1530!

Mysterious Destinations you will love

Most of the places on this list have a supernatural mystery attached to it. While some of these mysterious destinations may have a reasonable explanation, some of the others are still scary for tourists today.

Travel

Historic Landmarks Around The World With An Important Story To Tell

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Historic Landmarks Around The World

Mankind has left an indelible mark on the world around him. Ever since the beginning of recorded human history, we have been on the cusp of discovery and exploration. There are so many historic landmarks that stand as a proof of man’s relentless efforts to make his mark on the world. From the remnants of ancient civilizations to mysterious monuments etched in stone to the more well-known landmarks, there is much to see. If you are a lover of ancient things then, these historic landmarks are exactly what you need to see. If you’re going on a global journey or if you love reading up on historic landmarks, you surely don’t want to miss out on any of the sites we mention.

Historic landmarks that have left a mark

The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt: The three stately monuments, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt have a story that baffles even the most well-read archaeologists and architects of the modern world. It is a wonder that leaves jaws dropping because it is absolutely impossible to believe that people of ancient Egypt would have the means to create three monuments that seem to defy all rules of physics. And yet, despite conspiracy theories, the fact behind the building of the pyramids is quite simple but it is a story that points to the well-planned ideas of the people of ancient times. The Pyramids of Giza have always been one of the greatest wonders of the world and have been in the list of the Seven Wonders of the world for obvious reasons.

Stonehenge, Salisbury, UK

Stonehenge, Salisbury, UK: Europe’s best-known prehistoric site, the mysterious Stonehenge is said to have originated as a sculpted earthwork more than 5,000 years ago. Approximately in 2150 BC, more than 80 blue stones were believed to have been transported to this site by unspecified means. Some scholars say that there may have been an ancient worship site here, some others go as far as to state that this could have been the sight of an ancient human burial ground while others speculate that it could have been an ancient astronomic site or an observatory.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu, Peru: Located in Southern Peru, this ruined city is perched atop a mountain which is accessible by train or a four-day long trek. The Machu Picchu is said to have been an important cultural centre for the Inca civilization but was abandoned when the Spanish invaded the area. It is famously known as the ‘Lost City of the Incas’. The area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and is on the list of the new Seven Wonders of the World. It’s a beautiful site to visit or read about if you want to know more about the Inca Civilization.

Petra, Jordan

Petra, Jordan: Carved into a canyon in Arabah, Jordan, Petra became popular thanks to the Hollywood film, ‘Indiana Jones’. The site was discovered in 1812 when an explorer followed some local tribesmen to the region. It had been forgotten by the west until its discovery. Its origins are unknown, but archaeologists believe that it had settlers as early as the 6th century BC. The site declined under Roman rule and was completely abandoned after the 4th century. This site is also on the list of the new Seven Wonders of the World. The story of Petra and its origins are one you really would love to know more about.

Moai Statues, Easter Island: Located in the Pacific Ocean, Easter Island is a special territory protected by Chile and is home to the Moai statues. These statues are the only thing that is proof of a rich culture that once lived here. These gigantic and impressively carved heads are another example that states that the ancient people were not primitive by any means but were far more advanced than we are. The people living here today are all that is left of large tribes that once lived on this island until continuous wars killed them all.

Historic landmarks with an importance

As mentioned earlier, the historic landmarks mentioned on the list are mostly untouched by technology of modern times and most have a history that predates the Christ Era. These historic landmarks evidences to our ancient ancestors’ supremacy are all that remains of their culture today.

Travel

The Seven Main Reasons You Should Travel with Kids

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There are two groups of parents – those who travel with kids, and those who don’t. The parents who don’t travel with their kids often say the kids will never remember it and travel is wasted on them and they’ll only remember it through photographs. The reality is that traveling is just like going to a playground and playing with your kids, or reading a book to them at night, except it’s better. It’s about experiencing things together as a family and making memories. They will remember that part and their character will be better for it, especially with all the good learning opportunities out there for children. Here are seven excellent reasons why parents should travel with their kids.

1. Travel improves developmental milestones.

Children learn every minute of every day. When you travel with children, they can observe and experience a lot more sights, sounds, smells, colours, and languages from an earlier age. Imagine associating your son’s first words to travel to a certain country or knowing that your daughter’s love of the ocean comes from a sailing trip you took when she was very young.

2. Travel makes children more flexible.

Travel makes children understand a new baseline, a new normal. It helps them be more adaptable to different situations and not be so rigid in their habits and schedules. They can learn to eat with chopsticks then with their hands depending where they are. They learn to sleep where they can and eat the food that they can find. They’re more willing to try new foods and learn new experiences instead of becoming picky or worse, entitled.

3. They learn the importance of multilingualism.

Children quickly learn that people in different countries speak different languages, and even different dialects within the same country. They understand the importance of language and how it can bring people together. As per Tonya Rhodes, an educator at Academized, “It also helps them become multilingual, which is an extremely valuable skill in this global world. Because children learn languages much quicker than adults, they can easily learn more languages when travelling.”

4. We’re all human no matter the physical differences.

Travel is the best way for children to learn about diversity and see everyone as human beings regardless of physical differences. It can educate kids about why some people have different skin colours, different religions, and different cultural norms. Kids can make friends with other kids in different countries that have totally opposite backgrounds but if they have a similar interest, they can be friends. This is perhaps the best lesson kids can learn when travelling at a young age.

5. Travel creates curiosity.

Children who travel are more likely to have active imagination and become more curious and creative about the world around them. Children will find many different ways to turn a tourist visit to an important landmark into a whole world of make-believe and become true explorers. No matter which country you go to, they will ask so many questions and always have a thirst for adventure. These are skills that they further develop during their childhood and serve as a good foundation for adulthood.

6. Travel pushes us to try new things.

Travel is a great way for kids to learn new things and always be open to trying new experiences. Whether it’s camping in the desert, playing in the snow, or going ziplining, travel opens up so many possibilities that they become used to trying something out before deciding if they like it and it will serve as a foundation for their interests later on in life.

7. Children learn about the world.

Kids who travel will naturally be much more interested in world geography, maps, history, and even airplanes. They start to understand how the world works and just how huge and diverse the world is. They love to learn new capitals of countries, being able to locate it on a map, and know what languages a country speaks. These are crucial life skills that they start learning much earlier than most other children.

Travelling with kids is certainly not easy and comes with unique challenges, but it’s definitely not wasted for these top 7 reasons.