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Top 5 Harshest Places to Live on Earth

We all find reasons to visit exotic places around the world. There are some places though that may strike your wanderlust despite being opposite of a dream-vacation-land.

In this blog post, I want to take you on a tour of the world’s top 5 harshest places that are impossible to explore for long because of the natural conditions.

Mother Nature births beautiful places in the different environment. Some of them are in the harshest environment. These sites are not only impossible but fatal to live in. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, venture out on your own free will.

Dallol, Ethiopia

Many times we think of shoving someone’s head in burning sulfur. Our anger is wrong! But did you know there is a place where you can do so? Dallol in Ethiopia is a volcanic site. The rugged terrain has sprawling volcanic lakes.

These hell-like lakes are not just any lakes; they are full of acid and sulfur.

So, if you want to go near it, then go at your own risk. The temperatures here reach an average of 35 degrees Celcius all the year round.

It is unfortunate to say that, Dallol is the hottest inhabited place on Earth! Yes, you read that right, it is inhabited. People who live here have no means of transportation, not even roads. You can travel on the hot volcanic terrain on a camelback.

Le Rinconada, Peru

After reading about the hottest inhabited place, let us move on to the highest inhabited place. Le Rinconada is in Peru. You can say it is a quaint town in the Peruvian Andes.

This little town is not so small after all. It has people flocking to it, because of the gold rush. Even at the height of 16,700 feet where people should suffocate for oxygen, people settle here. Talk about gold motivation! The highest spot on earth, where people live offers gold as bribe in place of oxygen.

 

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Atacama Desert, Chile

The wide expanse of wilderness spans across four countries, making it the largest non-polar desert. Atacama desert might cover Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina but it’s the part of Chile that is the harshest to live in.

The temperature here rises to 50 degree Celsius. And it hardly receives an annual rainfall of 0.51 Inches. With little to no water for hundreds and thousands of miles in Chilean Antofagasta, how is a man gonna survive? That remains the biggest question.

Oymakon, Russia

When we talk about extreme places, we see they are either bone-freezing cold or brain-melting hot! But there is a place in Russia that happens to experience both types of climates. Now, this is what extreme tourism is all about. Whether you believe it or not Oymakon is the coldest inhabited place on earth.

Temperature drops to a deathly low of -67.7 degrees Celsius. But after the tiring cold weather, residents of Oymakon are set to deal with the scorching hot summer. Two sides of the coin are just the same in Oymakon; the only difference is one is hot and another cold.

Death Valley, USA

The name assigned to this national park in California suits it perfectly. While we talked about the hottest, driest, and highest places on earth; Death Valley somehow must have smirked behind our back. It is a must-mention in the list of harshest places.

Where the Atacama Desert receives the lowest rainfall, Death Valley witnesses the hottest of temperatures. It is hard to live here for more than the twelve hours; you may die of dehydration.

Temperatures reach a high of 51 degrees Celsius, then how is any human supposed to survive here? Yes, Death Valley is a National Park in the US and hundreds of thousands of tourists do visit the park (only if for few hours).

 

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Around the World for Christmas Buffet

The smell of fried chicken fills the air, and there is nothing better than wolfing down a plate loaded with roasted turkey during winter. But other than your cozy little fireplace, there are many places throughout the world where you can eat a hearty buffet.

Let us go on a Christmas Buffet around the world.

FLY TO JAPAN

Many may consider Japan as a non-Christmas country. However, in the past few years, this nation stepped up its game. Even though you will not see many favorite Christmas traditions, you have to taste their delish Christmas dishes. The best thing you can have during Christmas here in Japan is the tasty kick of heat in Kentucky Fried Chicken. For dessert, there is a light sponge cake decorated with a decadent cream and vibrant strawberries. Unlike the western countries, Japan has its own Christmas meals which are not too heavy on the palate.

A SPICY CHRISTMAS IN MADAGASCAR

The dense atmosphere of this African country paired up with a delightful plate of food screams exotic!

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When you have the chance, taste Akoho misy Sakamalao – the traditional Christmas dish including chicken cooked with garlic and ginger paste. This dish is also cooked with coconut stew and served with rice. Apart from the overflowing plates of chicken, pork is also a common dish in Madagascar. But for dessert, you need to sweeten your mouth with the signature fruit of Madagascar, the Lychee.

COOKIE JARS OF ICELAND

In the chilly winter wind and snowy backdrop, one craves something warm and baked. What better way to celebrate Christmas than cookies and cakes? The fluffy cakes and yummy cookies are not the only delicacies in an Icelandic Christmas Buffet. There is another dish that you are not likely to find anywhere else in the world, reindeer. When you hear reindeer you might immediately think of sleighs, but in this age who needs a sleigh? Hence, the poor fellas make it to the dinner table, and did I mention how lip-smacking they are? Other than reindeer, you can taste the smokiness of the lamb, and seabirds which make it to the buffet.

CHOCOLATEY CHRISTMAS

Tsokolate is the decadent, drool-worthy and delish dessert served in the Philippines. When the rich chocolate liquid slides down your throat, it is just heaven! Other desserts include a version of custard made with coconut cream. However, it is the main dishes that will blow your mind! The carefully cooked pig on a stick is a roasted version of Lechon. Do not worry about the richness of the meal; silky smooth pasta graces the plate to enhance the wow-factor of the Philippine Christmas Buffet.

WHIPPED CREAM IN AUSTRALIA

When the hemisphere changes, so do the demands of the palate. In Australia, turkey and ham are not widely preferred dishes. Due to the change of seasons in Australia, a Summer Christmas needs something different. Barbecue gives the meal the necessary kick to elevate the buffet from standard to festive. However, the grills are not solely used for steaks. Seafood is much loved among the Aussies. Thus, if you receive barbecued prawns in your Christmas Buffet, do not look shocked. They wrap up the meal with a chunk of whipped cream folded through bits of fresh fruits. Sounds like a party for your taste buds!

HEALTHY X-MAS MEAL IN ETHIOPIA

After attending all the New Year’s Celebration around the world, you can end up in Ethiopia. The celebration of Christmas is different here because Ethiopians follow the Julian Calendar. And according to that calendar, Christmas falls on January 7th. Thus, you have more time to plan your exclusive tour. The traditional meal of Christmas consists of a thick stew of juicy chicken and fresh veggies. You can scoop up the spicy gravy with a soft flatbread called injera.

TRY CUISINES OF LEBANON

It is not just one dish that makes a celebration standout, but rather the entire meal which makes it special. From the finger licking spiced rice to the flavor bombs of minced meat, everything on the plate reflects perfect home cooking. Whatever you eat in a Lebanese buffet, do not miss the Kibbeh Pie, which is undoubtedly the star of the meal. Besides, there is a refreshing middle eastern salad seasoned with mint to cleanse your palate.

To take the memory of your Christmas buffet with you, buy some sugar-coated almonds from the nearby store, or tell your host to pack it for you.

Tour the world this Christmas with no intention of stopping your mouth. Say yes to cookies and cakes, turkeys and ham, and whatever delicacies await you this holiday season!

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10 Most Unique Christmas Traditions Around the World

Our planet is a multicultural place. That means that people around the world celebrate many different holidays at the end of the year, from Hanukkah to Kwanzaa, among many others.

However, with Christianity being followed by one-third of the global population, Christmas is celebrated by many nations and in many countries. Still, these Christmas traditions vary greatly, both from country to country and from continent to continent.

Here are our top 10 most exciting traditions from different countries:

The Philippines

The Philippines is the third largest Catholic nation in the world. No other country’s celebrations come even close to Philippine style celebrations. Filipinos have the longest celebration in the world, starting in September.

There are nine days of Christmas masses in a row, which have the name of Simbang Gabi. On the last day of Simbang Gabi, which is Christmas Eve, the mass service is actually called “Misa de Gallo.” That’s Spanish for “The rooster’s mass”.

And there are also festive of parols, star-shaped ornaments traditional to the country, which brighten the windows of the houses during the entire holiday season. These are the lights which reflect the Star of Bethlehem in design. Their name comes from the Spanish word “farol”, which means lantern.

In the Philippines, Merry Christmas is “Maligayang Pasko”. Try to remember this if you plan to spend the holiday season in this magnificent country!

Sweden

The Yule Log is the traditional Christmas in Sweden. It greatly differs from both European and American traditional celebrations. For example, instead of wood, the Swedish go with a goat. The Yule Goat, or the Julbok, isn’t a live animal. It is made almost entirely of straw and originates from mythology. The Swedes have adopted it as part of the modern Christmas tradition warmly. However, not everybody in Sweden is happy with this holiday symbol.

For example, the town of Gävle has set up a giant Julbok annually since 1966. Since that very same year, people in the town have tried to torch, kidnap or vandalize the symbol in one way or another. Over the half of the goats have fallen victim to what the town authorities call vandalism.

By the way, Merry Christmas in Swedish is “God Jul”. Memorize this congratulation, if you are going to celebrate Christmas in Sweden.

Australia

In Australia, the holiday season falls in the summer. In fact, these might be the hottest weeks in the whole year. So Christmas in Australia is more often characterized with electrical storms and brush fires than with snowstorms.

However, that doesn’t prevent Australians from getting into the Christmas spirit. One family from Canberra even broke a world record by decorating their property with 31 miles of lights.

Some Australians try to follow British traditions. In these families, you will surely see a roast turkey, a steamed pudding, and gingerbread on the Christmas dinner table. However, most people in Australia head towards beaches during Christmas for barbecues. Plum pudding with ice cream is also served traditionally, in an attempt to tolerate the Australian Christmas temperatures.

Finland

Finland is the perfect place for Christmas. Joulupukki, the Finnish Santa Claus, waits for visitors in Rovaniemi, the hometown of Santa in Lapland. However, Christmas in Finland is not all about snow, Santa, and reindeer.

There are several traditions, which you won’t find in any other place in the world.

For example, in South Finland, a formal ceremony takes place at noon, with reading the Declaration of Christmas Peace. With some changes, the document has been read annually since the 13th century. It states that the holiday “shall under aggravating circumstances be guilty and punished according to what the law and statutes prescribe for each and every offense separately”.

It means to never mess with Finnish Christmas! The declaration also wishes the inhabitants of the country a joyous Christmas holidays.

In Finland, people wish each other “Hyvää Joulua” on Christmas!

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, single girls and women perform an unusual ritual on Christmas to find out if they will get married next year or not. With her back to the house door, a woman throws a shoe over her shoulder. If the shoe lands with its heel towards the door, the woman will stay single. However, if the front of the shoe faces the door, she can start wedding preparations.

If you want to wish somebody Merry Christmas in the Czech Republic, you should say “Veselé Vánoce”!

 

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Slovakia

In Slovakia, during Christmas dinner, the head of the family takes a full spoon of Loksa (a traditional Christmas dish, made of bread, poppy seed filling and water), and throws it up onto the ceiling. There is a belief that the more that sticks to the ceiling, the richer that the family will be next year.

In Slovakia, Merry Christmas is “Veselé Vianoce”!

Ukraine

In Ukraine, Christmas is celebrated on January 7.

The traditional Christmas Eve dinner must contain 12 dishes, relating to the number of the Disciples of Christ.

Christmas dinner doesn’t start until the first star appears in the sky – it is a symbol of a Christmas Star, which showed the way to the Kings when Christ was born.

Also, on Christmas, people gather in groups and perform a unique Christmas performance, called vertep. It usually tells the story of Christmas, reminds the popular of national traditions or pays attention to the modern social problems. Traditionally, vertep includes Maria and Joseph with baby Jesus, Shepherds, which were first to greet the birth of Christ, Kings with presents for the Savior, an Angel, a demon, a Jew and a goat. People go from house to house, performing vertep, singing carols and wishing the hosts all the best in the new year.

In Ukraine, people congratulate each other, saying “Shchastlyvogo Rizdva” (Merry Christmas) or “Khrystos narodyvsya” (Christ was born).

Venezuela

In Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, people go to Mass on roller skates on Christmas morning! The local authorities even close the main city roads for this matter.

To wish Merry Christmas to somebody in Venezuela, say “Feliz Navidad”.

Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, people also celebrate Christmas on January 7th. People traditionally dress in white clothes on this day. Men also play ganna, a fast-paced game with sticks and wooden balls.

“Melkam Genna” is how they say Merry Christmas in Ethiopia.

Cuba

Every December, the Cuban city Remedios hosts the Parrandas festival. The city is divided into two halves, each building a sculpture from light bulbs. These sculptures then compete against each other. 

“Feliz Navidad” works for Cuba too, if you want to say “Merry Christmas”, as Spanish is country’s language as well.

 

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5 Best Places to Visit in Ethiopia

“Ethiopia” the name itself sounds like a Utopia. It is an African country which has struggled a lot. Recently it is coming out of a crisis. You can stay here safe and happy. There is less fear of being mugged. Ethiopia is not only about feeding Hyenas it is so much more than that. Here are some things you can do in Ethiopia.

The Bath of the Queen of Sheba, Axum, Ethiopia by A. Davey CC BY 2.0

AXUM

The ancient history of Aksumite empire is to be respected. It is old in respect of culture as well as language. Imagine the Ark of Covenant!That is what Axum is. It is the location of the Ark of the covenant. You will find the ruins in Ethiopia.

At The Bus, Axum, Ethiopia by A. Davey CC BY 2.0

The relics of past are the center of attraction in Axum.There are a lot of historical sites you can visit.You can go for a shortened tour if you are not so interested in it.If mountains interest you more then hike the mountains to visit the mountains.

ADDIS ABABA

This is a famous African city.It is the location where the meetings of African Union take place.It is cheap in Africa.So you should not worry about the prices.The markets here ae well known.So, have fun with your shopping. It has architectural epics.Addis Ababa has lovely churches, and beautiful mosques to see.You cannot help but feel pumped when you see the active nightlife here.Like any city in Africa, it is safe and cheap here.So have a fun stay at Addis Ababa in Africa.

Lion of Judah, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by Rjruiziii CC BY-SA 3.0

HARAR

It is the well-known tourist destination in Ethiopia. The place has so many alleyways that you can walk through it for a year. It’s Like something you will find in The Horn. There is something you ought to do when you are here. Feeding the Hyenas is a thing which tourists will hesitate to do. But if you are adventurous enough, go for it. The place is not a big party destination. It is one of the holy cities for Muslims. You will find magnificent architecture in the mosques. It is on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.

Street in Harar by Ahron de Leeuw CC BY 2.0

GONDAR

Gondar is a city which is full of history.The old castles seem to be a token of past.It has developed to be a modern town.The history is not the only thing in Gondar.The beauty of Ethiopia is in the Simien Mountains. The mountain tops reflect the beauty of castles around it.This city has history and natural beauty.You will love the stunning scenery here.You can hike up the ranges too.There is a monastery at the end of the city is called Gorgora.

RIFT VALLEY LAKE

You can ride on the route of Addis to Harar.The 70 km road leads you to the south of Ethiopia.The tiny shade houses are impressive to watch.There are shops which have flowers and vegetables.The lake Ziway on the countryside is gorgeous to watch. The multi-colored Oromo tombs seem like a dream around the lake.Enjoy your trip to Ethiopia.The history, cathedrals, tombs, scenic beauty will give you a peaceful break.

 

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