Guides
The Most Insane Firework Shows In The World
Independence Day is fast approaching and it has many of us in the mood for fireworks. But there are plenty of other places in the world that put on great fireworks shows.
Yasothon, Thailand
Thailand has a rocket festival! A rocket festival! How cool is that? They shoot giant rockets that weigh more than a ton and reach altitudes of more than 20,000 feet off of 65-foot-high bamboo launch racks. The festival usually takes place in April or June so use it as a good precursor to your July 4th festivities.
Diwali, India
Diwali quintuples our one-day celebration with its five-day firework marathon called “festival of lights.” This celebration takes place as part of the Hindu New Year.
Hindu temples all over India light off tons of crazy explosives for five days straight and they don’t even use mortar tubes, they shoot their fireworks straight out of holes in the ground. Five days straight you can see these giant explosions in the sky as well as feel the earth shake as the fireworks shoot out of the ground.
Tultepec, Mexico
In Tultepec there is a festival called the National Pyrotechnic Festival. This already sounds crazy. These firework aficionados don’t just light off one firework at a time, they have papier-mache towers stuffed with explosives.
This festival is so dangerous that they had to turn a negative into a positive saying that it’s a blessing to get a small burn during this festival.
36 people were supremely blessed at last year’s festival when they were killed in a major fireworks explosion.
This is one case where I’d rather be stressed and not blessed.
Chios, Greece
On Chios, an island in Greece two churches celebrates Easter a little differently with the festival of Rouketopolemos. This celebration goes all the way back to the Ottoman era and is between two churches that have a not-so-friendly rivalry.
In April these two churches that are only 1,300 feet apart shoot about 50,000 rockets at each other’s bell towers.
This sounds really cool and blends celebrating with fighting very nicely unless you live somewhere in between the churches. Residents put wire mesh over their windows to try and protect themselves but some have died over this insane annual rocket duel.
China
China is the father of all fireworks. They developed the main ingredient in fireworks, the gunpowder. Any time the Chinese find something to celebrate, they do it with explosives. They produce more fireworks in China than they do anywhere else in the world so when it comes time to light up the sky, you can count on them to be pioneers.
Yanshui, Taiwan
Yanshui has the craziest firework festival I’ve ever heard of. The Yanshui Beehive Firework Festival is a celebration you might want to skip if you have a fear of being burnt to a crisp. Each February they stuff a bunch of rockets onto wooden frames and when lit they shoot off into the crowd of people like a bunch of angry bees. While most people would run away, that would make this festival too safe. Instead, everyone watches and dances as they get hit by fireworks.
Guides
4 Things You Can Do to Help the Environment
Do you want to help the environment but get overwhelmed by where or how to start? You look and see much work to be done, and you want to make the most significant impact.
With so many ways to help the environment, you don’t have to do it all right away. You can start small with simple ways to make an environmental impact.
Read on to learn five tangible things you can do to help the environment.
1. Carry Reusable Shopping Bags
One simple shift you can make to help save the environment is to carry reusable shopping bags for each of your grocery trips.
Plastic grocery bags are harmful to the environment. These plastic bags take a long time to break down, leaving them at risk of ending up in the ocean or endangering an animal.
Keeping reusable totes in your car lessens the amount of plastic bags used and disposed of in landfills. Reusable bags are also durable to ensure you don’t have broken bags of groceries rolling down your driveway.
2. Add Solar Panels
If you are eager to take a big step in helping the environment, consider solar panel installation for your home.
Solar panels save energy by deriving clean energy from the sun, whereas traditional electricity uses fossil fuels as its source of energy.
Conserve energy and save money by calling a professional like the Blue Raven solar company to schedule an appointment for a quote today. You might be surprised by the impact this decision makes on your life.
3. Save Water
Another easy way to make helping the environment a regular part of your life is to save water.
Water waste is more significant than you might think. If you had a calculator on your faucet showing you how much water you waste while completing routine activities, you would be shocked.
Try simple adjustments such as turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth or washing dishes. You can also wait to turn the shower on until you are ready to get in.
Small changes still make an impact on the environment and your budget!
4. Purchase Reusable Beverage Containers
Along the same lines as the plastic bags, plastic bottles also have a heavy impact on the environment.
Try making the switch to a reusable water bottle to lessen the amount of plastic waste. You can even find a water bottle that encourages you to drink more water throughout the day. Less plastic bottles and better for your health by drinking more water – it’s a win-win!
Learn the Best Ways to Help the Environment
Don’t be intimidated by what might seem like a daunting task to help the environment.
You can make an impact with minor adjustments in your daily routine and lifestyle. Try implementing these five methods into your life and feel confident that you are making the earth a better place!
Carry your environmentally friendly ways even into your future traveling endeavors. Find tips, resources, and guides for your best travel experience under the Travel tab.
Guides
Traveling Goals Before You Turn 30
Before you get bogged down with the horrible reality of getting old make sure you accomplish these amazing travel goals to ensure you can sit back and reflect on your happy life.
Youthfulness is a gift and it is one that you should take advantage of. Pretty soon your body will ache, your hair will turn gray and you will have something absolutely horrible known as responsibilities leaving all your goals too far away to ever accomplish. Before you kiss your goals goodbye and get bogged down with the horrible reality of getting old make sure you do these amazing things while you travel to ensure you can sit back and reflect on your life when you get old and make everyone else in the nursing home jealous.
Travel Alone
When you’re married or you have kids, odds are you won’t have the opportunity to travel all by yourself or knock a lot of your goals off your list. So travel alone while you can and see what the world has to offer you. You will make new friends and experience a wild adventure all your own. Write your own story and do only what you want to do. It’s always great to have companionship when you travel, but having complete and total freedom is great too. You’ll be surprised at the companionship you do find when traveling alone and you will make a memory that you will cherish forever.
Climb A Mountain
There is no sense of accomplishment quite like climbing a mountain. No, you don’t have to get to the top of Everest and risk freezing to death, there are plenty of mountains with varying degrees of difficulties of paths to the top. But once you reach the top of the mountain you will truly feel like the king of the world. You will feel like a superhero and your friends will bow down to you because you’re the great and powerful mountain climber.
Ride A Classic Train
There are trains all over the world, but most people don’t think about traveling on them because cars and planes are so much more practical when it comes to getting somewhere. But there is something majestically unique about a train voyage that is something that you will remember forever. It doesn’t really matter where the train goes just sitting and staring out the window or walking through the cars is a romantic journey that is truly one of a kind.
Peruse A Market
There’s something to be said for the colorful chaos that is an international marketplace. You weave through tight alleys and see the colorful merchandise that different cultures have to offer. You don’t even have to buy anything to enjoy yourself, just browsing stand after stand is enough to leave you satisfied. However, if you do feel like shopping these are usually great places to get unique gifts for cheap and delicious local food. Markets are great for many different reasons but the most important one is the magical experience they will leave in your heart.
Learn A Language
Being able to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak your native language is quite a thrill. You feel so smart and so worldly when you are able to communicate in a different country. Plus, you never know when your knowledge of a language will help pay off in different parts of your life. No one ever regrets learning a new language, so why not start today.
Guides
Cuyuna: The Hidden Gem for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Cuyuna packs a lot of adventure into a small town. This hidden gem is a breath of fresh air with unique ways to explore history, nature, and culture. It has something for nearly every kind of outdoors enthusiast, whether you want to break out your skis or head out on a paddleboard.
Go for a Ride
With over 70 miles of mountain bike trails, the area around Cuyuna is a mountain biker’s paradise. Rolling hills offer gorgeous lake views, the state park and recreation areas preserve healthy woodlands, and even the dirt is pretty. Cuyuna’s red soil is a regional hallmark, showcasing the iron that once drew miners.
Dozens of trails offer a range of challenges appropriate for all levels of expertise. There are even paved and gravel routes with a 100-mile grinder for ambitious travelers.
Get on the Water
Cuyuna hosts an array of interconnected lakes with up to 50-foot clarity and viewings from tons of lakefront cabins. The deepest are relics of the region’s mining area, and the open mining pits have been reclaimed by nature, creating some stunning and unusual views. Kayaking and paddleboarding offer the best way to explore the water, and miles of official kayak trails loop the shores.
If you want to get your feet wet, try the official swimming beach or arrange a scuba tour to explore the water. There’s lots to see under the surface, including deep blue drop-offs and underwater forests.
With four species of trout, two species of bass, and plenty of walleye, crappie, bluegill, and northern pike, the lakes invite fishermen to try their luck. https://cuyunalakes.com/water-activities/ Be sure to get a fishing license before you go.
Try It on Ice
There’s still plenty to do in and around Cuyuna after the snow falls. Cross-country skiing takes off. The lakes usually freeze in winter, and the state offers ice fishing in the colder months. It’s such a popular activity, there’s even an annual contest.
Explore History
The land itself offers plenty of history. Many lakes are former mines, and scuba tours explore the areas where men historically worked while kayakers peer down through a watery window into another time.
Cuyuna cherishes is past, and it keeps that history on display for visitors. The Soo Line Depot Museum fills a former train station instrumental in shipping iron from the mines to bigger lines. In addition to a fantastic collection of authentic photographs, tools, and artifacts from the town’s industrial history, the museum hosts an entertaining array of vintage and bizarre wedding dresses and a replica of the capsule used in Project Man High II in 1957.
Get Festive
The town has plenty of seasonal events, ranging from tree lighting and Christmas markets to mountain bike races. The area knows how to celebrate, going all out for the 4th of July or keeping things cozy with local bake sales and art shows. The best way to stay in the loop is to check the official Chamber of Commerce’s website for the most recent listings.
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