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.

Published

3 months ago

February 23, 2023

Loren Thorn

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.

Destinations

All-Inclusive Resorts Outside The Caribbean!

Published

13 hours ago

June 5, 2023

Owen Gardocki

When you think of all-inclusive resorts you automatically think of the Caribbean and Mexico, which makes sense. Most of the all-inclusive resorts are centrally populated in the Caribbean and Mexico, but there are some other regions that offer excellent resort experiences in less than ordinary places.

All-inclusive resorts are great if you want to stay on a budget, be completely pampered and have a low-stress vacation. Why not veer off the beaten path and try one of these less than ordinary resort locations and expand your vacation portfolio.

Morocco

When you think of Morocco, you don’t necessarily think of all-inclusive resorts but this area is a hotbed for these luxury resorts. Check out the incredible deals offered up at resorts in Marrakech and Agadir, some featuring fun activities like water parks. Many of these resorts don’t offer alcohol since they are located in an Islamic country. You can have plenty of fun without booze, so give the magical country of Morocco a chance.

Arizona

Arizona is the destination of dude ranches and wellness retreats, so find your happiness in the desert. Surrounded by sand is the norm for all-inclusive resorts but most of these have an ocean with the sand, not Arizona. The desert makes an incredible backdrop for some of the world’s best dude ranch experiences. Come to Arizona dude ranches to ride horses, hike and enjoy nature while relaxing on a ranch.

Arizona is also famous for its wide variety of wellness resorts that range from spas to yoga retreats. Let your mind and body enjoy a vacation while you spend a week on a wellness retreat.

Brazil

Brazil has enough coastline for all the world’s resorts but they keep there’s more spread out. These resorts are very similar to the ones you would find in the Caribbean but these are often more remote. The average guests at these resorts are Brazilian families as it’s harder for foreigners to reach remote locations. Check out the Northeastern region of Bahia for the most spectacular resorts.

Tennessee

When you think of luxury all-inclusive resorts, that last place you think of is Tennessee, but this landlocked state has one of the world’s top resorts, the Blackberry Farm. The 4,000-plus acre farm is the ultimate luxurious resort where all the meals are cooked using ingredients from the far and are masterfully prepared by the top shelf chefs. Enjoy horseback riding and hiking in the glorious backwoods of rural Tennessee. Who knew that Tennessee had such class?

Texas

Much like Arizona, Texas has plenty of dude ranches and wellness retreats, but they also have some fun ones on the coast. These resorts tend to shy away from the all-you-can-drink party vibes and lend themselves to the tranquil, relaxing vibes instead. You may not find unlimited booze here but you will find peace and quiet, which are often harder to obtain than adult beverages.

Explore your world and find where you are happiest, and revisit that place as often as possible. Everyone has his or her own idea of a perfect vacation, just make yours a reality.

Guides

The Many Benefits (And A Few Downsides) Of Traveling After A Breakup

Published

22 hours ago

June 4, 2023

Owen Gardocki

Obviously, breakups can be devastating. And when you’re that low, it’s hard to imagine even leaving the house, let alone going on vacation! But there are actually a lot of great benefits of going on a solo vacation after a breakup. Obviously, there are a few downsides as well. But for the most part, taking that time for yourself to explore and reflect can be just what the doctor ordered when you find yourself depressed and lonely.

Here are all the things you’ll learn when you travel after a breakup.

YOU’LL LEARN TO LOVE YOUR OWN COMPANY

One of the hardest parts about being recently single is the sudden and dramatic increase of time spent by yourself. When you were in a relationship, it seemed like your entire life revolved around time with your partner. So the transition can be tough and being alone can drive you crazy at times. But forcing yourself to travel in those moments helps you make the transition into being comfortable alone much faster. Because you have no choice! You don’t even have friends around to keep you company.

You’ll be eating alone, sleeping alone, and doing every other activity in-between alone. It’s a trial by fire, but when you make it through you’ll be more confident and comfortable with yourself than you’ve been in a while.

YOU’LL MAKE FRIENDS YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE

Sure, going on vacation with a partner can be wonderful. But you’re unlikely to connect with any strangers or make any new friends on a couples vacation. Which is fine, of course. But making new friends and interacting with locals can be a very enjoyable and fulfilling part of a good vacation. And when you’re vacationing alone, you almost need to make new friends and make a few connections to make sure you don’t go crazy!

Plus, meeting new people, especially while in a different country, can really open your mind to new experiences and perspectives. And sometimes that’s what a great vacation is all about.

YOU GET TO BE SELFISH

When you’re in a relationship (at least a healthy one), there’s going to be a lot of compromising. You’ll have to go to all kinds of events and watch all kinds of TV or movies that you would never waste your time with but you do anyway because your partner really wants to. But after a breakup, that all goes out the window! And you get to be as selfish as you want and only do the things you want to do. It’s the best part about a breakup.

Now just consider how great that kind of selfishness is on a vacation! Most vacations are chock-full of activities every day. And now you don’t have to cater to anyone else’s needs and wants! It’s all about you, baby. So do exactly what you want to do. Even if it’s nothing at all.

YOU’LL GET YOUR GROOVE BACK

As we alluded to at the beginning of this article, a breakup can cause some serious depression, loneliness, and maybe more importantly, some serious self-doubt. Much of those post-breakup days are spent wondering what you did wrong and if anyone will ever love you again. It’s a terrible place to be and it can be very difficult to break out of.

But going on a solo vacay can help you regain your confidence and relearn how to trust your gut as fast as possible. You’ll be the only one making any decisions, and even if you make a few wrong ones, no one has to know but you. And, for the most part, that’s the best way to regain confidence in yourself: decision making. Trust me, after relying on only yourself for a week or two, you’ll return home more confident than you’ve ever been.

IT’S EXPENSIVE AS HELL

And now it’s time for the negatives of traveling alone after a breakup. I’m sorry! I promise I’m not trying to bring you down, there are just a few important negatives that are worth mentioning. Like that fact that traveling alone is a lot more expensive than traveling with a partner. All of a sudden you’ve gotta pay for 100% of everything? What the heck is that?!

But this isn’t that hard to avoid. Just be smart about your choices. Find some cheap airfare and lodging. And look into visiting places in their off-season so the prices won’t be too jacked up. You can still make it happen, I promise!

A LOT OF THE FUN OF STAYING IN A FANCY HOTEL DISAPPEARS

One of the best parts of traveling with a partner is getting to enjoy all the extravagant luxuries of a fancy hotel together. Wearing the robes, ordering the room service, taking advantage of the free couples massage. Getting to laugh and make jokes to each other while you enjoy the amenities make it all the more fun.

But, unfortunately, it’s just not as fun when you’re by yourself. Frankly, it’s a little depressing. It’s almost like, “What’s the point?” Ya know? But here’s the twist… you ‘ll save a lot of money by not bothering with the fancy hotels! See, I twisted it! It’s actually a positive!

Featured

Prepare Yourself Accordingly For High-Altitude Vacations

Published

2 days ago

June 3, 2023

Owen Gardocki

Some of the most amazing and breathtaking vacation destinations out there are at very high altitudes. That’s why they’re such great vacation spots! Amazing views of nature! Whether the nature is covered in snow or various greenery, the sights and sounds of high-altitude towns and cities are always worth it.

But that high altitude can really cause problems for you if you’re not careful. So you definitely want to be properly prepared so your vacation isn’t ruined just because you’ve never been that high above sea level before. Luckily for you, I’m about to go through everything you need to know to make sure your high-altitude vacation goes off without a hitch.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Seems easy enough, right? You should do this before every vacation. But specifically, when it comes to high-altitude destinations, you’ll definitely want to look into what other people have experienced while being in that city, enjoying its various sights and hikes, or even just flying into the airport. Let other people’s experience be your guide!

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE YOUR TRIP

There are a lot of medications out there that treat altitude sickness, but many of them require a prescription. So be sure to sneak in a quick visit to your doctor before you go. If medication isn’t your thing (and we wouldn’t blame you), there are also plenty of natural remedies that can help. Specifically, things like ginger tea and lavender oil can be very helpful.

DON’T PUSH IT

If you’re anything like me, you always try to make the most of your vacation and end up completely exhausted by the end of it because it was just non-stop activities. But you have to be careful and take it easy when in high altitudes. Especially in the first few days as your body acclimates to the change. So if you’ve got plans of taking a big hike, save it for the backend of your trip.

MAKE SURE YOU’RE IN SHAPE

Well… at least as in shape as you can comfortably get. Don’t get me wrong, even the fittest person in the world can still come down with a bout of altitude sickness. But it also should be easy to believe that the better shape your body is in, the better chance it has to stay healthy during an aggressive altitude change. Not to mention, if you’re taking a vacation in a high-altitude spot, you’re probably about to do a lot of hiking!

STAY HYDRATED

Duh. You should always stay hydrated. Your body constantly needs water, dummy! But high altitudes can definitely lead to dehydration. And, in case you didn’t know, dehydration is bad for your body! And this doesn’t just apply to the days you’re actually on your trip. You should do a little prep work and try and drink more water than usual in the weeks leading up to your vacation as well.

TAKE IT EASY ON THE ALCOHOL

This is a tough one, I know. What’s a great vacation without some alcohol?! But, you have to be really careful with your alcohol intake while in a high-altitude location. Alcohol can contribute to dehydration no matter what altitude you’re in. So it’s probably a good idea to not double down on your chances of getting dehydrated. A few drinks are fine but don’t overdo it.

EAT!

Our bodies tend to burn more calories when in high altitudes. And this can obviously be dangerous as you’ll need that extra energy to continue to enjoy your vacation. So go crazy! Eat more than usual and just load up to make sure you have the proper energy levels. You’re welcome!