4 of Asia’s Weirdest Sports

Each country around the world has their own weird sport that they can call their own. Finland has wife carrying, Wales has bog snorkelling and Canadians have unicycle hockey. But when it comes to downright bizarre, it’s safe to assume that Asian countries take the cake. While we can’t name them all, here’s four of the oddest sports in Asia.

Elephant Polo

Forget horses, they were so last century. These days it’s all about Elephants. It’s not really any different from the original polo, it’s just bigger and a little bit slower. However, the skill level of the riders will astound you. There are two riders to each Elephant, one to steer and the other to hit the ball. The length of the field is only three quarters of a standard polo field, which as you can imagine, can get very crowded. Introduced into India by the British aristocracy, Elephant Polo has expanded to Australia, Germany, Britain, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and is especially popular in Thailand and Nepal. There is even a World Elephant Polo Association (WEPA) and an annual world championship to boot. WEPA enforces strict rules on the welfare of Elephants and runs a large conservation and awareness program.

Sepak Takraw

Sepak Takraw makes the list purely because of the sheer level of athletic ability required to play. In a nutshell, a Sepak Takraw players combines soccer, volleyball and gymnastics into one game. How is this even possible? Well, the Takraw ball is about the size of a large softball and is usually made of cane or hard plastic stems. There are three players to each team who stand on opposing sides of the net which resembles the volleyball aspect. Throughout the game, they use their feet, shoulders or head to hit the ball to the opposite side. The fun part – at no time can your hands or arms touch the ball. Essentially, these skilled players are often seeing flipping backwards and forwards, jumping up to incredible heights and moving their bodies in ways that make your cartwheel look like amateur hour.

Bataoshi

Do you remember playing capture the flag as a child? Well imagine that, but with a towering pole and 150 of your best chums. Awesome, right? Played by cadets at the National Defence Academy of Japan and traditionally on its anniversary, two teams of 75 launch themselves physically and in any way possible to vie for control of a single five metre pole. The victorious team is the one who successfully lowers the pole to a 30 degree angle. What sounds like a fairly simple game, actually requires a lot of athletic skill.

Indoor Cycling Gymnastics

When researching this article, I argued whether this was an actual sport. But after watching many cycling gymnastic videos on YouTube, this sport was too fabulous to ignore. In Korea, competitors don full body leotards, and battle to win the title of who can burn calories with the most style. Featuring choreographed moves, participants shimmy, do tricks, dance seductively and shake their heads more times than you can count. Overall it’s the enthusiasm of the contestants that make it so entertaining to watch.

Are your bags packed? Organised your Facebook/Instagram/Skype data on the TravelSIm website to upload all of those hilarious moments you need to share with disbelieving friends and family? Awesome. You’re ready to go! But before you do, answer us this, what’s your favourite sport that’s considered a bit weird? Tell us in the comments below.

(Photo credit: yahoo images)

Gross Eyeball Licking - A Trend In Japan

Photo credit: Blisstree.com

Would you? That's the question of the day. Even if I was dared and paid a large sum of money, I don't think I will lick someone's eyeball for the reason that, it is unhygienic and can possibly render that person blind.

Well, this eyeball licking or oculolinctus or worming is becoming a trend in the younger Japanese generation. Videos of such practice has appeared in Youtube done by Japanese teens to show their love or affection. It has also cause the spread of germs or bacteria in the licked person's eyes.  This practice has also caused the surge of pink eye or infection to the most sterile part of the human anatomy.

Japan is known for it's unique and often time outlandish practices and trends but this tops the weird-o-meter!

Licking an eyeball can cause a lot of health issues such as introduction of bacteria and small food particles to the eyes which can scrape the cornea, the person becomes susceptible to conjunctivitis, permanent scarring of the cornea and it's just plan gross!

You can show your love in many ways imaginable but this one is just way too freaky. Stick to holding hands and kissing instead.

The Planking Craze

Planking is the recent craze of people these days. It is an activity where the person lies face down with his or her hands and arms to touching the side of the body.  The person must be photographed and uploaded to some social network sites or electronic album as part of the game.

I have seen a lot of people doing this weird pose and sometimes I am amused. However, recent plankers have taken the activity to a new level by planking to posts, balconies, light poles and even McDonald's signage. It was reported in Australia that a man plunged to his death by planking on his apartment's balcony.

Photo credit: djmick.co.uk

Photo credit: atbreak.com

It is okay to do this safely but when you cross the boundaries of safety and logic then I think this craze is a crazy one! No pun intended.

One Less Bell to Answer - The Etiquette Bell

Have you ever encountered odd devices stuck on a public comfort room before? Well, this is the first time I have seen an Etiquette Bell. I was really baffled when I saw an electronic device stuck in the comfort room cubicles of Incheon Airport. The device which looked more like a door bell gadget was placed strategically (and within arm's reach when seated) on the wall inside the cubicle.

So, I thought of taking a picture of the device and research about it upon my return to Dubai. I was a bit surprised to find out that it was actually NOT a bell which would ring when the button was pressed. It is a device to cover unwanted sounds made when you do your thing in the rest room. Some devices play fake flushing sounds, violins and soft music for 20-30 seconds. 

I didn't press the one inside my cubicle for fear of an army brigade rushing to my cubicle and tearing my door down or some siren-sound to come out of the device and call every one's attention. I wouldn't like to be caught dead seated there while the weird device makes funny sound. No way!

Well, I think this device is kind of cool. I hope they install them here in Dubai too so I don't hear weird noises from the nearby cubicle. 

Feeling Weird Lately

My husband and daughter are both in Manila right now for their vacation but my daughter will be staying there for a month more. I know this yearly routine of sending her off to Manila for her to bond with our families should be well-accepted by yours truly by now. But I don't know why I can't seem to get passed the stage of letting my daughter go. Every year, I just have to cry my heart out because I miss her so much. Every single year, I go through this state like a wreck! My sister even chided me, "Don't you get used to it?" My response is always the same - "NO, I don't."

This is what it feels like to be a mother I suppose. I feel that part of myself has gotten transferred to my little princess when I gave birth to her. I just want to hold on to her not realizing that she is growing up so fast for me to take it all in. A classic example is a long distance call I made this morning. I asked her if she wants to come back here in Dubai now. She replied, "Maybe YES, maybe NO." I said, "What?!? Last time I checked, you did not want to go there so what gives?" To which she replied with "Mama, let me enjoy myself here first." And that was it. I did not utter any more word because I felt a tightness in my chest. To hear her say those words kind of zapped me back to reality. I guess I am holding on too much. One day, she will be all grown up ready to take the world on her own without me to hold her little hands and guide her.

I don't know if I am exaggerating or just having my hormonal imbalance thing but I feel hurt when she said those to me. Doesn't she miss me? Does she just prefer to be with my in-laws and not me? Are they smothering her with materials things I cannot provide for? Are they buying her affection? I know these are weird questions running in my head. I am a bit jealous, I admit that. Feeling that makes me more human.

Right now, as I write this blog, my head is in a blur. I feel pain, a little resentment to some people who have no iota of an idea as to what is happening, a bit angry, insecure and a tad green with jealousy. These are all negative emotions boiling inside me. I guess I was just caught off guard when my daughter told me that. I thought I am always her super-mom, her idol, her role model, her number one. Then again, maybe not.

Bear with me folks as I figure out what's going on in this thick skull and fragile heart of mine. I feel like a tempest in a teapot about to burst any minute now. Is motherhood really this "painful?"

Rainy March

I have never experienced rain in March here in Dubai. We've been here for almost 10 years and this is the first time I saw rain during the month of March. Weird weather shifts happen when the season is to change just like now - the end of winter and the dawn of spring. However, it was scary yesterday with matching gray clouds, thunder and great electrical show in the sky! We had hail some years back prior to the winter season but yesterday we had hail storm in some parts of UAE. I find that rather strange. I guess this is the cause of global warming.

Here are pictures taken yesterday here in Dubai. I credit the photographer who took these shots. They are amazing.


I love this picture above. It's like "Twister Part 3" the Dubai version. It is not common in this part of the world to have this kind of weather phenomenon. Few days before we had this hail, there were several sandstorms signaling the change of the weather but we didn't expect chunks of snow as seen below.

Talking while Asleep

I have heard of somnambulism and people talking while they are asleep. I have even heard some of my family members talk while they were actually sleeping and engage in a few conversation too. I don't think it is a weird activity considering how our brain still functions even while at deep slumber.

Somniloquy or sleep-talking is rather common to people of all walks of life. It can occur at any stage in the sleep cycle.

Here's something weird though, I "heard" myself talking while I was asleep just few minutes ago before I woke up. That's strange! Have you experienced something like that too? Unless I am having "out of body" experience. LOL!

Weird Weather

These past few days are rather breezy and cool in Dubai. Normally, at this month, we experience the peak of summer's heat - humid and high temperature. However, that was not the case. Although, it is still hot and humid during noon towards the afternoon but to have a breezy morning air is quite odd. What's happening? Could this be the adverse effect of global warming?