10. Hanakapiai Beach, Hawaii

One criticism you can’t throw at this beach is that it covers up how dangerous it is. A sign leading to the beach shows a tally of how many visitors have died there, with space for more. The problem is the currents – with no reef separating the beach from the open ocean, riptides can drag even good swimmers out to sea with no option of returning. The beach is also a hike away from any help, so don’t expect a fully-trained lifeguard on hand if you do get into trouble. A guide to Kaua’i island says that most deaths are out-of-state visitors who don’t understand the tides. The sign seems pretty straightforward, I think.

On the upside, it’s meant to be beautiful. Just don’t go into the water.

9. Gansbaai, South Africa

Another beautiful spot, with miles of white sand and dramatic cliffs. So beautiful in fact, that you’d think working for the Gansbaai Tourist Office would be a breeze. It has all these features, and it’s also the Great White Shark capital of the world. Who wouldn’t want to visit?

Well, people who are afraid of sharks for one. Maybe it’s just me, but selling a beach as being the Shark Capital of the World is a bit like selling a restaurant as being Cockroach HQ. Just look at this terrifying photo of a shark stalking a kayak, taken at Gansbaai – doesn’t it make your blood run a little bit cold? It’s been said that the photo has been faked, but the photographer denies this and also says that sharks don’t attack kayaks. So that’s a bit reassuring, but I’m still not rushing to visit.

8. Southern Mindanao Islands, Philippines

What happens when you venture “off the grid”? Well, book a trip to some of the more remote islands of the Philippines and you might find out. Away from the tourist destinations like Siargao, you might think there are exciting new places to discover and you’d be right, but not exciting in a good way. The southern end of the Mindanao Islands are frequented by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, who have been in a state of “All Out War” with President Estrada since 2000. In that time in one province, 45% of residents have reported their homes being destroyed, while 16% have known of witnesses to crimes being killed. So, your survival chances as a Western tourist? Depends whether the MILF are in need of a hostage that week or not…

Oh, and there are pirates about as well. Again, in a tourist-kidnapping sense. Still, lovely beaches…

 7. Darwin, Australia

Not one beach in specific, but dipping your toes in the waters anywhere near this Northern Australian city would require a nerve of steel. Delights in and around Darwin Harbor include box jellyfish, crocodiles and …more sharks! The jellyfish tend to only be a problem between October and May, but the salt-water crocodiles are visitors to Darwin all year round. One source reports that 4 crocodiles a week are caught in the harbor.

In case this is all sounding too enticing, bear in mind that a 2011 report into the state of Darwin’s beaches found higher-than-average levels of bacteria in the water. Australia has many beautiful and clean beaches to visit, with less chance of being eaten or stung…visit those instead!

6. Kilauea, Hawaii

One of the chief things you need in a beach vacation is heat. Lying on the beach when it’s chilly is just disappointing, really. So in some ways, visiting a beach on top of an active volcano is perfect. But there’s an obvious downside, in the form of the risk of death. But if you don’t much care about such things, Kilauea beach in Hawaii is worth a visit. The volcano has been constantly erupting since January 3rd 1983, so there’s little chance of catching it on an “off” day and it’s a beautiful natural phenomenon…from a distance.

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10. Escot Gardens Maze (UK)

Created in 2004, this maze consists of over 4,000 beech trees as well as flying bridges and switch gates that change the route as you go along. It was designed by Adrian Fisher, who has planned over 600 mazes worldwide as well as writing puzzles for British newspapers.

It’s part of the Escot estate in East Devon, which also contains a manor house and a nature reserve. So, as well as getting lost in a maze you can meet wild boar and beavers. As long as you find your way out, that is…

9. Mirror Labyrinth at Glacier Garden (Switzerland)

Also known as Gletschergarten, this labyrinth in Lucerne, Switzerland was modeled after the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, which is famous for its ornate architecture. It contains 90 mirrors and visitors have to walk with their hands in front of them in case they walk into one of them. It was created in 1896 for the National Exhibition in Geneva and it moved to Lucerne 3 years later.

The mirror maze is part of a bigger attraction built around a set of glacial potholes, which used to be the base of a glacier. So, there’s a natural phenomenon to visit as well as the manmade maze of mirrors. And apparently a pen of rabbits as well…

8. Ashcombe Maze (Australia)

Set on the Mornington Penisula, near Melbourne Ashcombe has not one but 3 different mazes – the hedge maze (above), which is the oldest one in the Southern Hemisphere, the lavender labyrinth and the rose maze. The hedge maze was planted in the 1970s, with over 1000 cypress trees and comprises the South Maze, the Centre Garden and the North Maze. Each bit if the maze has a different layout, so it’s easy to get lost. As the website says “any tricks you worked out while making your way through the first part, mean absolutely nothing in the other.”

Then there’s the circular rose maze, with 1200 rose bushes and the lavender labyrinth which has a floating pathway through 4000 lavender plants. It’s a sensory treat to wander through the scented plants and there are woodland gardens to visit too. Worth a visit if you’re ever in Melbourne.

7. Cow in the Field (Germany)

Now, this isn’t particularly complicated as mazes go, but deserves its place for sheer ingenuity. It’s a maze cut into the shape of a cow’s stomach and it appeared in a field in Marienfelde, Germany. It was created by the Federal Institute of Risk Assessment, which studies the risks caused to the environment by chemicals and modern living. It aimed to explain how a cow digests food and raise awareness of healthy eating. I’m not entirely sure how it does that, but it’s certainly an interesting tourist attraction. In case that hasn’t satisfied your appetite for cow-themed mazes, there’s another one cut into a field near Holt in the UK.

6. Hampton Court Maze (UK)

Dating from 1700, this was described as “the most famous Maze in the history of the world, and immeasurably the one most visited” by Ernest Law in 1926. It still remains popular and is a unusual trapezoid shape, with inbuilt speakers projecting 1000 sounds from a sound installation called “Trance”. There are even benches in the center of the maze, which make subtle noises when sat on.

Hampton Court Palace sits near the Thames, on the outskirts of London. It was a favorite of Henry VIII’s but it was a much later king – William III – who commissioned the maze. It was designed by George London and Henry Wise and was originally planted with hornbeam. Some say that Cardinal Wolsey also had a maze on the site, during Henry VIII’s time but there is no trace of this left.

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10. Hell, Michigan

The sign for the U.S. Weather Bureau at Hell, Michigan

Perhaps of no surprise to many, Hell, Michigan, may owe its name to the founder of a whiskey distillery. To be more specific, the town was founded by a man named George Reeves, who purchased a sawmill on a creek now called Hell Creek, subsequently building a gristmill and distillery, as well as a combined store and tavern. On top of that, he built a sulky racetrack (a lightweight cart pulled by dogs or horses). He was also rumored to have once sunk barrels of whiskey to the bottom of the millpond while under inspection from federal tax collectors. Drinking, gambling and tax evasion!

Competing theories exist as to the original source of the name. One is that German travelers were overheard exclaiming, “So schön hell!” (“So beautifully bright!”) while stepping out of a stagecoach on a sunny afternoon. The other is that, when Michigan became a state, Reeves was asked what he thought of the town he’d helped settle, and he declared, “I don’t care. You can name it Hell for all I care.” Another theory is that the early explorers gave it the name because of being plagued by mosquitoes and bogged down in wetlands. Whatever reason is true, whenever it’s below freezing in the small town, there are bound to be plenty of jokes about “Hell freezing over.”

9. Surprise, Arizona

The Rangers’ and Royals’ complex in Surprise, Arizona

When Flora Mae Statler founded Surprise, Arizona, in 1938, she gave it the name because she said she “would be surprised if the town every amounted to much. At that time, the town consisted of just a few houses and a gas station. A one-mile-square parcel was divided to make inexpensive housing for agricultural workers. Thanks to further development and the arrival of thousands of retirees in the 1990s and 2000s to the resort-like community of Sun City Grand, the city, which is close to Phoenix, is one of the most rapidly growing in the state. Surprise is the spring training home for both the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers. If she saw the city today, Statler would definitely be surprised.

8. Tightwad, Missouri

The often-photographed Tightwad Bank sign

With a name like Tightwad, Missouri, there was bound to be a colorful origin story. Sure enough, the name is said to stem from an argument between a shopkeeper and a customer — who was also a postman — when the customer accused the shopkeeper of cheating him by charging an extra 50 cents for either a watermelon, or as some accounts say, a rooster. It’s interesting that the town would take its name from an argument over money involving a postman, since many towns only get official names when the necessity arises to deliver mail properly. Regardless of the truth of that story, the village (population 64) attracts plenty of visitors, who love to photograph the Tightwad Bank, which no doubt keeps careful track of customers’ money.

7. Burnt Corn, Alabama

The general store/post office in Burnt Corn, Alabama

A number of towns are named for food items. Just about any sort of fruit, vegetable and farm animal has probably had a town named after it somewhere in the U.S. What elevates this town to a place on this list is the addition of the unexpected adjective “burnt.” The town of Burnt Corn, Alabama, earned its name from one of several possible scenarios. One, from white settlers burning the corn planted by the Creek Indians to clear land for their homesteads. Two, from the Creek Indians burning the corn cribs of white settlers to drive them from the land. Three, from an ailing Creek Indian, who was left behind by his companions with enough corn to supply him and then, when he recovered enough to move on, burned the remaining corn in a bonfire, which other travelers then found. A fourth story involves, again, the Creek Indians burning the corn of a specific settler, James Cornells, who owned a trading house and later settled on the spring where the corn had burnt. Seems like, somehow or another, burnt corn had something to do with it.

6. Rabbit Hash, Kentucky

General store in Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, with the former canine mayor.

According to local legend, the miniscule town of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, was named after a dish the town was known for in the early 19th century. Steamboats navigating the Ohio River would stop there for a dish of the delicacy. The story goes that, in 1831, a pirate ship docked and entered the town, burning all the buildings and killing everyone. The next steamboat to stop saw only the sign “Rabbit Hash,” which was mistaken for the name of the town. In actuality, the town name was likely not adopted until required by the post office, in order to differentiate the hamlet’s initial name of Carlton from a town named Carrollton several miles down river. These days, regardless of the name’s true origin, the village (which boasts only a couple dozen residents) is better known for having elected two dog mayors, which was the subject of a documentary, “Rabbit Hash, Kentucky: Center of the Universe.”

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10. HMS Belmarsh

HM, or ‘her Majesties’ Prison Belmarsh is a ‘category A’ men’s prison located in Greenwich, South East London. Though only active as a high security prison since 1991, the facility has grown famous in the UK as well as further afield. Housing some of Britain’s most notorious and revered criminals during its two decades, Belmarsh’s current population stands around the 1,000 mark. As well gaining a reputation for housing such notorious offenders as Charles Bronson and Ronnie Biggs, Belmarsh is also noted for its previous reputation as the ‘British Guantanamo’, due to its use for the detainment of untried ‘terror charge’ prisoners in the early 2000’s following 9/11.

9. Terre Haute Federal Correction Complex

Located in the city of Terra Haute in Vigo County, Western Indiana, this facility first opened in 1940. Covering all three security classifications, high, medium and minimum, the complex is all-male and comprises of two separate facilities. Namely, the Federal Correction Institution (FCI), Terra Haute and the United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute, each facility serves a quite separate function.  The former is a medium security branch intended for the holding of inmates in need of particular monitoring whilst the latter is predominantly home to death row inmates. The combined population of the facilities which comprise the Terre Haute complex is around 3,000.

8. Tadmor Military Prison

Originally constructed as a barracks by the French Mandate forces in the early 20^th century, today Tadmor Military Prison is one of the most renowned facilities of its kind on the face of our planet. Located approximately 200 kilometres north east of the Syrian capital Damascus, Tadmor made a name for itself in the decades following its first use as an incarceration facility as a result of typically harsh conditions, as well as leniency with the likes of human rights, torture and even execution. Though closed in 2001 following a string of political and religious atrocities, Tadmor was reopened in 2011 to facilitate the detainment of prisoners linked to the ‘Arab Spring’.

7. Camp Delta

Camp Delta is the name given to the detainment centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Notorious world over for its uses in the incarceration of prolific figures carrying a high terror risk, as well as those apprehended in current war zones, the camp has gained an international reputation (rather unfortunately) as one of the most symbolic institutions of our times. Constructed during the spring of 2002, Camp Delta is divided, much like any other US prison, into several facilities intended for inmates of certain need or categorization. Due to its location on international soil, Camp Delta has played host to some rather questionable occurrences involving the human rights of its prisoners, but that’s another story for another day.

6. ADX Florence

Opening in 1994, United State Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) is located to the south of Florence, Colorado. Carrying the status of a ‘supermax’, or super maximum security prison, ADX Florence is a rather well known place, having become known colloquially as the ‘Alcatraz of the Rockies’. Housing some 439 male prisoners, the facility is home to those deemed too dangerous for detainment in the countries other high security prisons, making this a very tight ship indeed. There are some six levels of security within ADX Florence, all of which are pretty severe and see most inmates contained separately at all times. The prisoners populating the facility range in terms of crimes committed, and whilst there are a number of notable international and domestic ‘terrorists’ detained within, the prison also hosts numerous prolific organized crime gang members and Mafioso’s.

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10. Znojmo Catacombs, Czech Republic

Worldwide, many places have been distinguished as catacombs even though they lack the first and foremost qualification: dead, interred bodies. The Znojmo Catacombs in the Czech Republic represents these posers, but these underground passages share an interesting history nonetheless. They were mostly built during the late middle ages (14th and 15thcenturies). The primary purpose of these underground mazes was to provide a safe haven from invaders. At times, these subterranean safe havens were self-sustainable for months on end. Fresh water wells and ample storage meant the city’s residents could outlast even the longest calamities.

9. Catacombs of London

Most of London’s catacombs can be traced to the Victorian era, back when Jack the Ripper first haunted nightmares and fictional, sleuthing characters such as Sherlock Holmes began solving crimes. Gas lamps were as common as railways, and the Industrial Revolution was in full swing. The premiere catacomb locations are the West Norwood and Kensal Green cemeteries. These grounds are famous for their Gothic and Victorian architecture and historical significance. Although devoid of interred corpses, another area of interest for spelunkers is the Camden catacombs that run underneath the Camden Market.

8. l’Ossuaire Municipal, Paris

Paris always has an answer for anything London does, and when it comes to catacombs they have over compensated once again. During the same period as London’s catacombs were built so too were holes being dug under Paris for disposing of the dead. Catacombs proved a cheap way for the lower class to lay their dead to rest. The bones of over six million decorate the walls of the main ossuary. The place is usually open for tourism when it isn’t being vandalized (the ossuary was closed in 2009 for such a reason). Have a look inside. Like London, there are many tunnels of different origins (with or without human remains) that fully constitute the “Catacombs of Paris”.  One could spend days fully exploring the world below this modern metropolis.

7. Monastery of San Francisco, Lima

Construction of the Church and Monastery of San Francisco was completed in 1774. Over one hundred years in the making, the structures withstood many earthquakes only to be damaged by a quake in 1970. The complex baroque architectural style of the grounds dates to 1600, and emanates a special grandeur that has helped earn the monastery a place as a world renowned site of historical importance. The grounds house catacombs that acted as Lima’s first cemetery. The tunnels below were used for burials until 1803, and have been frequented since by pilgrims and tourists amazed by the skeletal patterns along the walls. Intermingling are the bones of an estimated 70,000 burials that are thought to have happened here. The catacombs were lost for a period of time only to be excavated in 1943.

6. Rabat Catacombs, Malta

Off the southern tip of Italy, in the middle of the mythical Mediterranean Sea, lies the island archipelago that makes up the nation of Malta. On this Island, the village Rabat is home to a sprawling labyrinth of tunnels and tombs. A small settlement of around 7,000 people, Rabat shares a patch of land that used to be a full-on Roman city. Much of the Roman influence that has been preserved can be found underground. St. Paul’s and St. Agatha’s catacombs offer two nearby stops for tomb tourists. The type of burials found in St. Paul’s catacombs indicate the complexes date at least as far back to the 4th century. Only a small fraction of the catacombs are open to the public, but this doesn’t mean you can’t get an early Roman Christian experience while enjoying the twists and turns of the bleak corridors.

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10. Camel Wrestling

This ancient tradition is indigenous to the Aegean region of Western Turkey, and is believed to have originated with the Turkic tribes of the area over 2,000 years ago. Basically, it involves exactly what you may already think it does- 2 camels wrestling. Whilst the practice may seem a little unethical in our current politically correct climate, it is widely popular across much of Eurasia and is undeniably defended by the fact that camels are extremely prone to such activity whilst in the wild. Wrestles usually involve two males, who are encouraged into conflict through mutual introduction to a female on heat. We’re not so different, so it would seem.

9. Thumb Pointing

Indonesia is a nation rich in history and culture. Spanning across over 17,000 islands of varying size, the country is a Republic, and has a population of some 238 million people- making it the fourth most populous nation on the planet. Despite subject to Dutch Colonialism for a large part of its recent history, Indonesia is nonetheless a nation which has managed to thrive in an independent light- especially since its independence following the Second World War in 1945. Home to a large number of ethnic groups, religions and did I mention OVER SEVENTEEN THOUSAND ISLANDS, Indonesia has developed many pioneering customs and inventions. One which I particularly like however is the substitution of the forefinger with the thumb when pointing at another person. In Indonesia it is practiced heavily, as the classic way is deemed rude.

8. Lentils to see in the New Year

Not many can argue with the opinion that Lentil soup is both tasty and wholesome, however I, as I’m sure many of you, have encountered those who never fail to try. Such is the reputation of the bean (at least in its soup-form) in the South American nation of Brazil, that it is tradition to see in each New Year with a meal based around the dish. Whilst a menu item somewhat unfitting with Brazils colourful and fun-loving character, it is deemed to be a symbol of wealth amongst the countries natives. Hence, ushering in each new year is seen as placing a positive omen on a family for the imminent 12 months ahead.

7. Gurning

A strange yet undeniably hilarious custom, gurning is a practice believed to have originated in rural England. The concept is rather simple: put your head through a horse collar and pull the most ridiculous face you can. Whilst far from being the most innovative or life altering of creations to have arisen from the UK, gurning has reached a worldwide level, with men, women and children from all areas of the world even competing at a World Gurning Championship. And just to clarify, yes- I am being serious.

6. Zwarte Piet

A particularly bizarre character, Zwarte Piet is native to Dutch/Belgian folklore. Accompanying Santa Claus (or Sinterklaas) on his mission to bring love, joy and festive cheer to the children of these nations, the characters translates to ‘Black Pete’, and, as you may have gathered from the image above- he often finds himself at the centre of the odd controversy or debate. Originating from an era of the Dutch nation’s inherently racist and prejudiced past, in which it was deemed perfectly fine for a white person to adopt ‘blackface’ in the name of celebration of performance, Zwarte Piet is looked upon with much more animosity these days. Understandable, really.

The post Top 10 Strange World Customs appeared first on Top Ten Lists.

So, it’s possible that tests are still going on around the world, but where? These testing sites are, by their nature, secret but over time, details have leaked out, allowing us to pinpoint exactly where the tests have taken place (with a few exceptions) in our Top 10 Secret Nuclear Testing Sites.

10. Totskoye, Russia

Russia has reams of empty space in the frozen Siberia, so it’s quite surprising to find out that one of their nuclear testing sites was in the relatively populous southern part of then USSR, near what is now Kazakhstan. The site was chosen by military hero Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov for a test in 1954 where soldiers were told they would be role-playing a nuclear explosion, with a mock device going off. The aim was to test the response of the soldiers and their equipment in the event of a nuclear explosion and the soldiers were told to approach the area 3 hours after the explosion had taken place.

Selected local villages were told of the test and offered temporary evacuation, but most of the local people were unaware, as were the soldiers. Unsurprisingly and tragically, many of these soldiers and locals went on to develop cancer and die, from the dose of radiation they’d received. A sad story of a government putting the future of its weapons program above the future of its people.

9. Iron Range, Australia

The Iron Range National Park is nowadays described as a pristine tropical rainforest but did it harbor a nuclear secret during the Cold War years? Marie Strain certainly thinks so – her father Brian Stanislas Hussey died of cancer in the mid 60s, just a few years after allegedly taking part in “Operation Blowdown”, in which an airburst nuclear device was detonated by UK, USA and Australian military forces, in order to test how the rainforest would withstand such a blast.  Some contemporary documents describe it as a nuclear explosion, but in 2001 a spokesperson for the Defense Minister, Peter Reith, said that it was TNT, designed to simulate the effects of a blast. We may never know the truth.

8. Semipalatinsk, Kazahkstan

Semipalatinsk, in what is now Kazahkstan, was the USSR’s primary testing ground and like Totskoye, little thought was given to the wellbeing of the local people. In the 40 years between 1949 and 1989, there were 456 tests conducted there and the full effects were concealed by the Soviet authorities for many years but an open letter from the Embassy of Kazakhstan describes the “horrifying array of diseases” that have emerged in the wake of the testing.  The site finally closed in 1991 but the repercussions will be felt for a long time still.

7. Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands

Just in case anyone thought that the Cold War atrocities were only on the Soviet side, here’s an example of an environmental catastrophe initiated by the US. Once a beautiful coral formed island, Enewetak is now known as the “nuclear trash can of the Pacific“, thanks to a number of detonations there in the 1940s and 1950s. The  $239 million clean-up operation started in 1977 and much of the radioactive material was buried in cement below a large concrete dome (pictured above). In 1980, the islands were declared safe for re-habitation and the islanders returned. The US has since paid compensation to the Marshallese and there have been further environmental clean-ups. Still, the risk of cancer remains slightly higher among islanders thanks to their exposure to radiation.

6. Jornada Del Muerto, New Mexico

The site of the first ever nuclear detonation in 1945, with the code name of “Trinity”. 8 different sites were considered but the one with the best location – in the Mojave Desert – was dismissed because General Leslie Groves, who was head of the project, intensely disliked GeneraL George S. Patton, then head of the Mojave base. So the New Mexico site was chosen instead, and on July 16 1945 the bomb was detonated. It left a crater that was 3m deep and 340m wide, but the long-term effects of the test would be devastating as it opened the door to the “atomic age”. The test director, Kenneth Bainbridge, apparently foresaw this dark future as he remarked to a colleague shortly after detonation “Now we are all sons of bitches”.

The Trinity site today still carries a background radiation level 10 times higher than usual, and the test led to many others over the next fifty years.

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Real life has to be better than that, right? There have to be some motels out there that are pleasant, clean and give you a higher-than-average chance of making it through the night? Well, there may well be some but it seems like there are also some really scary ones. Cockroaches, stains and hookers…there are all in our list of the Top 10 Scariest Motels (with some help from the reviews at tripadvisor.com)

10. Adobe Motel, Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara is a pleasant, picturesque resort on the Californian coast, sometimes referred to as “The American Riveria”, by the tourist board anyway. What they fail to mention is that it’s also home to a “very scary” hotel. Close to the calm and beautiful harbor (above) lies the Adobe Motel. According to some it’s OK, but one reviewer “SERIOUSLY REGRETTED MY DECISION” (sic) to stay there and said it was only OK for junkies and homeless people. Someone else agreed that the clientele seemed mainly of the drug-using persuasion and that the staff were rude. Well, who wouldn’t be when you’re dealing with junkies all day long?

9. Alpena Motel, Alpena, MI

And now to the pretty town of Alpena, close to the shores of Lake Huron. At first glance, Alpen (above) is all white, wooden houses and clean wide streets but head down Highway 23 and you’ll find the Alpena Motel, described by some as a “nice and quiet motel”. But a blogger who visited in 2010 had slightly different ideas – he said it was “Brown. Brown wood panelled walls, brown carpet, brown bed sheets, brown pictures on the walls, brown ceiling. Even the TV is brown.” That’s once you’ve scraped off the layer of dead insects the blogger talks about (possibly also brown) and wrestled with the toilet that floods the bathroom whenever it flushes.

As far as I tell, he didn’t have any problems with noise, so we can agree that it’s quiet. Whether it’s also “nice” is a matter of debate.

8. Brookhurst Plaza Inn, Anaheim, CA

A second Californian entry, and we’re close to the magic of Disneyland, the happiest place on Earth. Sadly, things aren’t so happy at the Brookhurst Plaza Inn, which one visitor described as a “dump”. It’s available to hire for conferences and events, but reviews suggest that there are a fair few “events” going on there already and some conferences between prostitutes and their clients. Opinions on the motel range from “spotless” to “filthy”, but the “filthy” lobby seem to have the louder voice. There also the odd mention of mice, bugs and the occasional unexplained white stain. But it’s close to Disneyland, so that makes the rest of not so important….right?!

7. America’s Best Value Inn, Chickasha, OK

There’s a certain beauty in simplicity and the message you get from the Yellow Pages review of this motel certainly is simple – don’t go there. The single review describes “poor upkeep and felthy bath” (sic) and drawers full of cockroaches. Meanwhile, tripadvisor reviewers don’t hold back, with tales of disgusting sheets, rotten bananas and bedbugs. That’s before you get started on the personal hygiene of the staff members. Chickasha holds an annual “Festival of Light” but this place can only be described as dark-side.

6. Knights Inn, Orlando, FL

If we learn nothing else from the “America’s Best Value” reviews, it’s that you can’t always depend on chain motels for a great experience. Knights Inn may have the motto “Every Knight. Just Right” but some reviews of their Orlando location may suggest that some Knights get it wrong. “This is a BAAAD MOTEL” (sic) shouts one review, while another paints quite the word-picture with tales of roaches (again!), drug dealers and pimps hanging about. The new manager has replied to every negative review personally, with the best intentions so it may be that it’s much improved, but the reviews certainly give a scary impression. But if nothing else has managed to send a shiver down your spine, maybe this line will:

“My husband did have a gun with us and I for once thought it was a good idea.”

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10. Vietnamese Police Chief

The Vietnam conflict of the 1960’s and 70’s was in many ways the first ever war to be covered by the popular media. Beneficial in the sense that it allowed for the first time, public insight into the nature of modern warfare, this aspect cemented the conflicts undying place within contemporary history. Alongside the revolutionary air which was slowly reaching apex in the US during the war, there are a whole range of astonishing photographs that help bring this prominent era to life half a century later. This powerful image depicts a Saigon Police Chief about to kill a Vietcong prisoner at point blank range in the streets of the Vietnamese Capital. The prisoner is captain of a ‘revenge squad’, who earlier on this day in 1968 led a mission to execute a number of innocent citizens, whilst the executor is the, now notorious, General Nguyen Ngoc Loan. Photographer Eddie Adams won a 1969 Pulitzer Prize as a result of his capturing of this symbolic image.

9. Skyscraper Lunch

The origins of many of the world’s most impressive skylines and others urban environments are all too commonly overlooked. Whilst construction of skyscraper buildings may have slowed down somewhat in the past 50 years, or at least slowed to the point of becoming less notable thanks to their sheer popularity in the 20th century, much evidence of our towns and cities earlier days remains intact. This photograph is arguably one of the more notable amongst a whole host of collections documenting the extraordinary work that has gone into constructing the world around us. Taken on September 29th, 1932- it shows 11 workmen taking their lunch hour atop a constructional girder as their feet dangle above the streets below.

8. Afghan Girl

Afghanistan is a nation which has been ravaged with warfare for a large proportion of its very existence. Though the host of many an ancient battle, the Asian country has been famous amongst recent generations as the located of two large scale international invasions, not to mention two lengthy and untidy occupations. Namely the Soviet invasion of the 1980’s, and the US led UN invasion of the early 2000’s, it is hardly surprising that a fair few journalists have managed to become acquainted with the nations during this time. This iconic photograph was taken by Steve McCurry at a camp full of Afghan refugees just across the Pakistani border. Seizing the rare opportunity to fully photograph an Afghan female, the vivid image was featured on the cover of National Geographic in 1985, a year after it was taken.

7. The Burning Monk

An image which became known to me through its appropriation as the cover artwork for Rage Against the Machines self-titled debut album, this photograph is famous amongst so many more people than fans of political rap metal bands, I’m sure. Taken on June 11th, 1963- the image depicts a Vietnamese Buddhist monk by the name of Thich Quang Duc self-immolating at a ‘busy intersection’ in downtown Saigon. His reason for carrying out such an act was in protest to Catholic repression upon Buddhist ideals amongst citizens of the troubled nation.

6. Water Fountain Segregation

Previous to the civil rights movement of the 1960’s and 1950’s the United States of America, along with much of the rest of the western world, was built upon a series of fundamentally and inherently racist and unequal societies. Whilst nowadays things are a lot more balanced, we can all too often forget the degree of prejudice fully active just 40 or 50 years ago. This photograph was taken in North Carolina in 1950, and shows a ‘coloured’ gentleman taking a drink from a segregated public water fountain. It was captured by photographer Elliot Erwitt and remains amongst some of the most famous images from this era, simple yet tastefully shot, and of course- completely effective in outlining the barbarity and backwardness of racial segregation.

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10. Baintha Brakk

One indication that a mountain is difficult to climb is how many times it’s been summited…hence the appearance of Baintha Brakk in this list. The 7,285m steep peak in Pakistan has only been conquered 3 timers, despite numerous attempts. The last successful ascent was last year, in September 2012, and there was a gap of 24 years between the two other ascents in 1977 and 2001. By contrast, Everest is summited 300 times a year. It is an extremely steep and rocky climb, with the South Face rising 3km in only 2 km horizontal distance. Even the Britons who conquered the mountain in 1977 paid the price for it on the descent – one broke both legs, the other contracted pneumonia and broke 2 ribs. A mountain to tackle if low odds of success motivate you!

9. Cerro Torre

This is a Patagonian mountain which is steeped in controversy. The first claimed ascent was by Cesare Maestri in 1959, where he claimed that he and Austrian Toni Egger reached the summit but that Egger had been killed in an avalanche and had taken the photos of the summit with him. A later attempt in 1970 stopped just short of the summit and left the mountain littered with equipment, including a bolt ladder along the southeast ridge. The bolts remained there until a pair of North American climbers – Hayden Kennedy and Jason Kruk – removed most of them on their “fair means” ascent in 2012. They were both praised and criticised for this action, but the mountain remains extremely challenging, with or without bolts. It’s only 2685m high – a baby compared to some of the Asian peaks – but it was for a time considered the hardest mountain in the world.

8. Nanga Parbat

Nicknamed “the Man Eater”, Nanga Parbat  has seen 62 deaths on its rocky slopes, approximately 5.5% of all the climbers who have attempted it. In the 1930s, there were a number of German attempts on the mountain, as the British allowed them no access to Everest at the time, but the losses were heavy – an avalanche in 1937 killed 16 men instantly, while an ill-fated expedition in 1934 saw 9 deaths, including the famous climber Willy Merkl. It was eventually conquered in 1953 by the Austrian Hermann Buhl, who completed the ascent alone but there have been many deaths since then. It is still considered a very challenging climb and contains the world’s largest mountain face – the  Rupal Face, at 15,000 foot high. It has never been climbed in winter and is still claiming victims. The most recent, Joel Wischnewski, disappeared in February 2013 and has not yet be found. A chilling reminder of how this mountain got its nickname.

7. The Eiger

The North Face of the Eiger is another mountaineering spot that’s been turned into a metaphor for an insurmountable obstacle. And there’s a good reason for that – the sheer 6,000ft face of the so-called “Ogre” is subject to rockfalls and melting ice and the mountain has seen 64 climbers die while trying to replicate the 1938 summit. The North face is also known as “Mordwand” (“Murder Wall”, a play on “Nordwand”.)

Its notoriety also lives on in an unlikely tribute from British children’s author J.K.Rowling. In the “Harry Potter” series, a Dark Wizard is called Gellert Grindelwald, Grindelwald being a village close to the mountain. It’s unlikely to be a coincidence, as Rowling likes to weave real-life references into her character names and the association only strengthens the mountain’s connection with death and destruction.

6. Denali

This is a lesser-known but deadly mountain, with over 100 deaths on its slopes. Also known as Mt. McKinley, it is North America’s highest peak at 6,194m. Its Alaskan location towards the North Pole means that the atmosphere is far thinner than on other mountains, and only around 50% of climbers reach the top. It was apparently first conquered in 1906, by Frederick Cook, but that was later proved false, and a further claimed ascent in 1910 was also viewed with some suspicion. The first verifiable conquest of the mountain was in 1913 by Walter Harper and it has been climbed many times since. However, the death toll and success rate are still grim enough to deter all but the most skilled climbers.

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