Wow! Here's Some Weird Stuff For This Week's Fast Five!

 I love hearing about strange places and strange histories and just plain strange stuff.  So here you go!  Here's five things that suddenly fascinated me, and some of them for all the wrong reasons!

1.    The Bra Fence, Iceland.  I don't care how you look at this one, it's unusual.  This fence is at a farmer's house along the Ring Road, Route 1 in Southern Iceland, between Seljalandfoss and Skogafoss Waterfalls.  What is this all about?  The short story is, no one is quite sure.

It started back in 2012.  The farmer reportedly awoke one day to find several bras strewn along the fence.  He left them there.  Why?  No one knows.  Since then, it's become a thing, and now we have the bra fence.  People stop by and leave bras and the area of fence that's covered has grown over the years.  What's the draw?  I don't know.  It may be like stapling a dollar at a beach bar in the Caribbean or something else.  It's hard to tell.  Feel free to leave a bra, but don't leave underwear or gloves.  The farmer will take those down.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/south-icelands-bra-fence   

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g15145656-d21121559-Reviews-Bra_Fence-Holt_Westfjords_Region.html   

https://www.facebook.com/groups/422335988214633/posts/2549362845511926/   

https://www.funiceland.is/news/posts/2018/september/the-bra-fence-is-gaining-popularity/   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbcfk26AF2U   

2.    Ruterberg.  If you like the obscure, this is it.  Ruterberg is in Germany.  That's the short version.  The real story is really weird.  Have you ever felt invisible?  This place did.

Back in the day; I mean those days after WWII.  Germany had issues.  They'd just tried to commit genocide and pretty much pissed off most of the world, and after the war, they were divided.  This fact doesn't escape pretty much anyone; however, Ruterberg was all but forgotten in the fray.

This village sits along the Elba River, which was a border between East and West for a long time.  The village sat in a particular area that was just in the bend of the river, to the point that the borders were drawn all around it, but they weren't included in either side.  There was even a fence around it for years.  Were they the East or the West?  Neither one made a point of claiming them.  Years down the road in 1989 they declared their independence as their own republic on November 8th, 1989.  Well, the next day a little thing happened and the Berlin Wall was felled.  At this point, they are in Germany, but are they a republic or not?  Interesting question, and I'm not sure anyone truly knows the answer to that.

https://www.visit-mv.com/destinations/a-heimatstube-rueterberg   

https://www.militaryhistories.co.uk/locations/view/61   

https://www.outdooractive.com/en/poi/mecklenburg-schwerin/rueterberg-village-republic-1967-1989/14864214/   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQTJTpbTaco   

3.  Slope Cars of Japan.  How do I describe these?  Have you ever been out and needed to go up a hill but really didn't want to climb it?  In Japan that's not a problem.  The slope car is this one of a kind device that can be a monorail, funicular, or cog rail type car that takes you up and if you like, down a hill.  

These cars are all over the country, although one of the most famous ones is in Nagasaki.  Some have several seats, some have a single seat.  Most are self operated and free to use.  There are over 80 of these cars in the country.  Weird, yes?  They were created for people's convenience in the 1960's.  So, if you have mobility issues and need to go up a hill in Japan; this could be for you.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1121493-d11867641-Reviews-Hikosan_Slope_Car_Hanaeki-Soeda_machi_Tagawa_gun_Fukuoka_Prefecture_Kyushu.html   

https://www.discover-nagasaki.com/en/sightseeing/65004   

https://enjoy-kyushu.com/column/fukuoka/usefulinformation/4260.html   

https://web-japan.org/trends/11_tech-life/tec202403_vehicle.html   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgGQXEXVTrc  

4.    Gracie Mansion, Carl Schurz Park, New York City, NY.  You might not have any idea why anyone would give a hoot about this house.  Looking at it, I wondered about that too, but it's a special place.

Since 1942, every single mayor of New York City, except Michael Bloomberg, has lived in this house.  It was originally built in 1799.  It used to be Belleview Mansion and at one point it burned down.  It went through being for many things, and at one point, became Gracie Mansion, and in 1942 it became the home of the mayor.  How unusual is that?

That's not the best part.  This house sits in Carl Schurz Park.  If you know anything about this park, which I didn't until I visited it last week, it's a public park with amazing views of the East River, Roosevelt Island, Queens and beyond.  It's amazing.  It's a huge park with beautiful spots and facilities for playing and so on.  In the middle of it lives the mayor.  The house is accessed off the end of 88th Street, and the Astoria Ferry arrives just north of it at the end of 90th Street.  It's a great spot.

There's just one thing.  This park sits on top of FDR Drive.  It makes a tunnel for the busy road and the entire park, mansion, and everything is on top of a tunnel.  Wow.

https://www.graciemansion.org/   

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/carl-schurz-park/highlights/12329   

https://nylandmarks.org/explore-ny/gracie-mansion-yorkville-manhattan/   

https://historichousetrust.org/houses/gracie-mansion/   

https://www.ferry.nyc/   

5.    The Ghostbusters Firehouse.  This is the Hook & Ladder Company 8 in Manhattan.  Yes, it's a real firehouse and it's in operation today.  If you ever wondered, was it a real firehouse?  Is it currently filled with firemen?  Yes.  It's also a very popular quick stop for tourists in New York City.

Face it, we've all seen Ghostbusters.  We all loved it.  It's one of the most beloved movie franchises in modern history.  I don't even know how many people stop by here on their visit to New York, but it's a lot.  I had never been there until recently, and the day I stopped by, it was crowded.  The building has been there since 1903, even though it was refurbished a few years back.  Don't worry; it still looks like the old Ghostbusters headquarters inside.

The firefighters at this company are thrilled to be so closely associated with Ghostbusters.  They have a lot of fun with it.  They are always cordial to the tourists and if they aren't busy fighting a fire, they might just take you on a tour.  You can use the 1 subway to Franklin Street for your visit.  Once you exit the subway just put it in your Google maps and it will guide you right to it.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ghostbusters-firehouse   

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60763-d3728839-Reviews-GhostBusters_Firehouse_Company_8-New_York_City_New_York.html   

https://www.thefilmtripper.com/blog/ghostbustersfirehouse   

https://www.ghostbusters.com/   

https://www.untappedcities.com/ghostbusters-1984-nyc-filming-locations/   

I love strange stuff and I wanted to share some of it with you!  If you like, check out a YouTube Channel called "What On Earth Is This?"  He has good weird stuff.  I also like "The Tim Traveller."  If you'd like to see what I'm up to check out my YouTube Channel "Adventures for Anyone with Terri Dixon."  That's Me!

https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2026   

Check in next week and see whatever I might come up with!  I'm traveling this weekend, so you never know what I might find!  Thanks for joining me! Enjoy!

This Week's Fast Five is Less Fun & More Things You Should Be Aware Of!

 When you are well traveled, you realize that there are things going on in the world that as an American in the United States, you may not hear about.  What the media sometimes fails to understand is that as a global society, what goes on in the far reaches of the world may impact our lives right here.  So, today I bring you a few things that hopefully you haven't missed, but unfortunately in the United States you may have.

1.    What are the Kuril Islands?  If you were to look at the pictures I've placed here, you'd probably liken them to the Faroe Islands or something like that and think that it couldn't possibly impact your life.  Surprise!  The Kuril Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific/ Sea of Okhotsk between Russia and Japan.  Did that get your attention?  It should.

There was never a formally accepted peace treaty between these two countries after WWII, because out of this chain of islands, Russia and Japan couldn't agree on who owned four of them.  There's been tension there ever since.  Tension, Japan, Russia.  Think about that.

Fortunately, it was an ignored issue for decades, but recently, Russia decided to up the ante so to speak.  Russia is having troubles in its war with Ukraine.  There's also a lot going on there that we don't hear about.  As Americans, we don't dare get directly involved in that or there will be a large war.  However, a certain Russian President suddenly decided to visit these disputed islands for the first time ever and it's set off a firestorm of public rhetoric.  Where is that going?  No one knows for sure, but the flame has been ignited.

As a public supporter of both Taiwan and Ukraine, Japan now kind of sits in the hot seat between China and Russia.  You should be aware of that.

https://www.youtube.com/@PulsePointReport  

https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1949v07p2/d167   

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/18/kuril-islands-putin-takaichi-dispute-japan-russia-northern-territories   

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/eurasia/explainer-putin-s-1st-kuril-islands-visit-what-is-the-territorial-dispute-between-japan-russia/4026281   

https://www.mzunguexpeditions.com/kuril_islands_2025_en  

2.    What's up with Indonesian Ferries?  That might seem like an odd question, however there have been multiple incidents with these ferries recently.  I know of at least three incidents with the Bali/Indonesia ferries.  Weather capsized one, Weather sank another and fire caused one to have everyone abandon ship.  Why do I bring this up?

Those ferries run through 19 different operators and cover 36 routes.  They are a normal way to get around and if you travel on a budget like I do, you might use them to get around if you happen to be traveling in the area.  Everyone loves to go to Bali and it's one of the best ways to go if you're in Indonesia.

Is there a problem?  For reasons passing my understanding, boats catch fire and no one can put them out.  They are on water.  I don't get it.  It happens.  Weather around Indonesia during this season can be extremely unpredictable due to monsoon season and other conditions.  Does this mean that the ferry operators are lax or not to be trusted?  Not as far as I can see.  Sometimes things just happen.  I remember times over the years that planes seemed to crash right and left, and it wasn't anything in a pattern or from neglect, so that leads me to think that maybe stuff just happens.  However, I thought that you all should know just in case it might affect a trip you're planning.

https://www.npr.org/2026/08/03/g-s1-136858/blaze-indonesian-passenger-ferry   

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/passengers-rescued-as-second-ferry-in-days-catches-fire-in-indonesia/article71335131.ece   

https://voi.id/en/economy/590595   

https://openferry.com/destinations/indonesia?  

https://www.netferry.com/ferries/from/indonesia/indonesia   

3.    Have you heard about the AI Heaven that was created in China and went viral online?  This was amazing.  Why do I mention it?  for one reason; not all news should be bad.  For another, I think that the combination of the person who created it and the fact that it went viral might give us a little insight into how the Chinese might view heaven.

It was created by what's called an Optical Shop by a Chen Aijun, and it is beautiful.  This 30 second snippet lets us see his view of heaven.  Over 5 million views, people.  Was it Chinese people or all around the world?  I don't know the ratio, just the ball park total.  I saw it.  It was serene and gorgeous, but I probably would have liked more waterfalls.  That's just me.

What does this mean to anyone?  It's just a potential view into the psyche of Chinese people.  They're reported as Communist, which means no religion.  However, we all know that there are various temples all over the country.  Just something to ponder and a beautiful video to watch.  It also may just be a reminder that people are people no matter where they live.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1785622403215644  

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1368856.shtml   

https://inelda.org/the-chinese-approach-to-death-and-dying/   

https://orcasia.org/the-mandate-of-heaven-then-and-now   

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czepw096wy4o   

4.    Who are the Houthis?  Excellent question.  What do you know about Yemen?  I didn't even know that their capital is Sanaa.  However, this one is good to know.  The Houthis appeared in the 1990's.  That's a long time ago, right?  They control parts of Yemen, including that capital and carry a lot of weight in the region.  If you've ever been told not to go to Yemen, this pseudo civil war is probably why.  It reminds me of the Taliban and Afghanistan.

This group is militant and does physical, military style, guerrilla attacks on certain entities.  The latest one this year is against the Saudi Oil Trade.  They've been disrupting the oil channels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway connecting the continents of Europe and Asia.  Military action, blockades and so on.

What does this mean to people from the United States?  If you've been watching, oil has been an issue lately.  Iran, Venezuela, Russia and on and on.  Throw Saudi Arabia into the mix and there's just more trouble.  I know what people say.  They say that's why we need electric cars.  Have you ever looked at all the everyday items we use that are oil products?  This affects all of us.  Oh yeah, they're on Iran's side too.  You need to be informed.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-yemen-houthis-war.html   

https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/08/25/how-the-houthis-have-become-the-most-fearsome-of-irans-allies  

https://mei.edu/backgrounder/the-houthis/  

https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/war-yemen   

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChasDMjXYn_oyoKlDSSB39w   

5.    What is the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement?  From what I can tell, this is what happens when some of those Middle Eastern countries get sick and tired of it all.  This is one we all need to know about.  These are three strategically placed countries and Pakistan is even a nuclear power.  

What's happening is that the United States is becoming less reliable as the world's peacekeeper (sorry, it's just true), so these three decided to join forces in a NATO style pact.  I just mentioned the troubles the the Saudis are having with the Houthis.  Pakistan has always had troubles with India.  Turkey borders Syria, Iraq, and particularly Iran with all the latest shenanigans there.  Together, they will become a force.  Would I attack any of them?  Not now, much less after the Mecca Agreement.  Attack one, responds all.

This is new.  It doesn't mean that the United States will be in an animous relationship with any of these countries.  Historically, we get along with them pretty well as Middle Eastern relations go.  However, you should be aware of this.  What goes on in the Middle East often comes home to America.  We are at war in Iran right now.  You should know.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/17/trump-hails-mecca-pact-can-it-replace-the-regions-us-security-umbrella   

https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/mecca-agreement-why-saudi-arabia-turkey-and-pakistan-teamed-historical-moment  

https://freedomhouse.org/country/saudi-arabia   

https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/turkey.html   

https://pakconsulatela.org/about-pakistan/   

I know this isn't my normal blog, but in my defense; there are things we should know.  Everything here, with the possible exception of the Chines AI Heaven, can directly affect our lives here in the United States.  War affects us.  Oil disruption affects us.  Global relations affect us.  Even ferry transportation can affect us.  Just because Russia isn't bugging us, doesn't mean that what goes on with them and Japan is unimportant.  It's better to be informed than surprised.  This is also why I advocate travel as education; which is why you might want to know about the ferries.  If you've never gone out and looked at the world; you may not be aware of what no one will publicly tell you.  It's important.

If you'd like to see something more light hearted and what I'm up to right now; check out my YouTube Channel; Adventures for Anyone with Terri Dixon.  That's Me!

https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2026  

Thanks to so many of you for reading my little blog!  See you next week!  Get out there and see the world!  Enjoy!

All I Wanna Do Is Have Some Fun! This Week's Fast Five!

 This is that time of year when my birthday is coming up and I get that urge to do something a little nutty.  Here are some amazing play time activities for young ones and adults alike.  Yes, I've done a couple of these.

1.    Long Tom Toboggan Ride, Misty Mountain on the Panorama Route, South Africa.  This is quite a ride.  1.7 kilometers long, down the side of a mountain going potentially 45 miles an hour on a monorail.  This is like a mountain coaster on steroids.  It's the longest ride of its kind in Africa.  It costs about $20 per ride.  

This one I haven't done, simply because I've never been to South Africa.  Here's the thing.  People will say it isn't safe.  The company says it's meticulously maintained.  Use your own brand of caution.  There's no way to promise that people won't get hurt on such a thing.  Use you best judgement.  Nothing is perfect.

That being said, there are other things at Misty Mountain.  They have tours, hiking, scooters, lodging and more.  It's a great stop in the middle of the beautiful Panorama Route.

https://www.longtomtoboggan.co.za/toboggan.html  

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RuIn83CQyp4   

https://www.mistymountain.co.za/activities.html   

https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/rhenosterhoek/long-tom-toboggan-at-misty-mountain-61818781/  

http://www.melanievanzyl.com/adventures/an-adventurers-guide-to-the-panorama-route   

2.    The Canopy Tour, Rainforest Adventures, St. Lucia.  Yes, I did this one.  This place is fabulous.  We drove there on our own, but it might have been wise to take a tour out of Marigot Bay, the north end of the island or Castries.  The driving is a bit athletic.  

Starting at about $60 per person, depending on the package you get, you can have a great time flying through the rainforest.  They give instructions and some training on the ground at a low flying test site before you take the cable car up to the top.  You always have a guide with you and it is so much fun.  Sightseeing plus adventure all in one.  I really enjoyed it a lot.  

It takes about two hours to do the whole thing, and there are 16 platforms and 8 different zip lines.  There's a lot to see as you're flying around up there.  If you're going to St. Maarten, or Costa Rica; check into the same company there!

https://rainforestadventure.com/#   

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g8843287-d2267862-Reviews-Rainforest_Adventures_St_Lucia-Rodney_Bay_Gros_Islet_Quarter_St_Lucia.html  

http://www.ouredventures.com/activities-3/rainforest-adventures-in-st-lucia-251650   

https://stlucia.org/en/itinerary-nature-rainforest-adventure/   

https://www.viator.com/tours/St-Lucia/St-Lucia-Aerial-Tram-and-Rainforest-Tour/d38-5189STAT   

3.    The Cata-monster Dual Zipline, Catamount Ski Resort, Massachusetts.   New England ski resorts are always looking for something to have for people to do year round.  Zip Lines have been a big one and they don't come bigger than the Cata-monster.  It's just over a mile long and goes up to 55 miles per hour.  It's the longest dual zip line in the United States.  It takes almost two hours to do the whole experience.  You have a safety and fitting sessions, then you take the chair lift up to the starting point.  You do the other zip lines and then you strap in to the Cata-monster and take the mile or so ride down the mountain.

Yes, I did this one and it was absolutely thrilling!  Prices start at $99 per person, with it being more on the weekends.  There are also other activities at Catamount in the summer like hiking, biking and so on.  There are also some events on weekends in the summer.  I had a great time at this one, and it's really not that scary.

https://catamountski.com/summer/catamonster-zip-tour  

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g47899-d2227163-Reviews-Catamount_Aerial_Adventure_Park-Hillsdale_New_York.html   

https://columbiacountytourism.org/business/catamount-ski-area/   

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/things-to-do/2021/09/wheres-the-longest-zipline-in-the-us-youve-never-seen-new-york-like-this-video.html   

https://www.expedia.com/Catamount-Aerial-Adventure-Park-Hillsdale.d553248621532664791.Vacation-Attraction?semcid=US.UB.GOOGLE.DL-DSA-c-EN.PACKAGE&semdtl=a114123493019.b1124072454063.g1aud-2051518675148:dsa-1392933267286.e1c.m1CjwKCAjw7p_UBhBlEiwAhpIs7wGrDiZmhAsXLlxGC_kCvAGwKyFlIXADizf3xF77Luy4ynTIpFzEXxoCTtQQAvD_BwE.r1.c1.j19003419.k1.d1660685802137.h1.i1.l1.n1.o1.p1.q1.s1.t1.x1.f1.u1.v1.w1&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=14123493019&gbraid=0AAAAACTxZ9bIooOTT_4InOfzKA5nrVUgQ&gclid=CjwKCAjw7p_UBhBlEiwAhpIs7wGrDiZmhAsXLlxGC_kCvAGwKyFlIXADizf3xF77Luy4ynTIpFzEXxoCTtQQAvD_BwE   

4.    The High Flyer, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Connecticut.  It's right nearby, but no, I haven't done this...yet.  I plan to actually.  I just haven't gotten there.  This is something to add to your concert and gambling trip.  Foxwoods is known for having a lot of different things to do.  It's quite the playground, largely for adults, but you can bring the kids too.  This is just that one more thing after gambling, a show, good food, shopping, go karts, and so much more.

It's dubbed the only rooftop zipline in America.  It's located in the middle of it all at the Fox Tower Hotel.  You start 350 feet up and take off.  Four people can ride at one time as they have four zip lines.  That's a lot.  It goes for about a mile, and up to 60 miles per hour.  There's a training session and safety before you go and the whole experience lasts at least an hour.  Prices start at $65 per person. and it looks like a lot of fun.  There's a lot to do at Foxwoods; I even hear they opened a Great Wolf Lodge.  

https://foxwoodshighflyer.com/    

https://foxwoods.com/activity/highflyer-zipline   

https://ctvisit.com/listings/highflyer-zipline-foxwoods-resort-casino  

https://thisismystic.com/to-do/recreation/highflyer-zipline-at-foxwoods/   

https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g33831-d14141254-HighFlyer_Zipline_at_Foxwoods-Mashantucket_Mystic_Country_Connecticut.html   

5.    The Tobotronc Mountain Coaster, Andorra.  I couldn't write a post like this without mentioning this one.  It's on by bucket list.  We've all seen mountain coasters and alpine coasters and whatever you wish to call them.  This one is simply the longest one in the world.

This Alpine Coaster goes 3.3 miles (5.3 km; 1.7 km up and the rest not) down 400 feet of elevation drop through the La Rabassa Forest.  It winds, it glides, and the views are fabulous along the way.  The speed?  That's up to you.  Mountain Coasters are self regulated by the rider.

Starting at roughly $50 per person, you can buy a package.  I'm not sure that you can just buy a ticket for a ride on the Tobotronc.  There are other activities at Naturland and they all look fun.  Prices go up as you add more activities, but most of them include a ride on Tobotronc.

https://web.naturland.ad/en    

https://web.naturland.ad/en/activities/tobotronc  

 

https://visitandorra.com/en/nature--sports/tobotronc-at-naturland/   

https://www.themeparkjames.co.uk/theme-parks/europe/andorra/naturland/rides/tobotronc/   

https://evendo.com/locations/andorra/sant-julia-de-loria/landmark/tobotronc   

There you have it.  Just in case you were looking for some cool rides to enjoy the outdoors.  There's nothing quite like flying through the trees or gliding down a mountain.  There's nothing wrong with a little adrenaline rush.

If you'd like to see what I'm doing at the current time, check out my YouTube Channel, Adventures for Anyone with Terri Dixon.  That's me!

https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2026  

Never stop adventuring and for God's sake, never act your age!  It's just not fun!  Thanks for joining me!  Follow for more, and subscribe to the YouTube Channel for more on New York City & the world!