World’s Craziest Festival

08/12/08

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Popular Written by Julie Schwietert

Haven’t made any summer travel plans yet? How about making your way to the world’s craziest festival?

Phuket Vegetarian Festival, Sept. 28-Oct. 7, 2008

Beyond celebrating all things veggie and practicing purification, this festival is full of sights like this one. Men compete to see who can take the most extreme pain. Be sure to emphasize that you’re just a spectator!

If this festival isn’t enough for you, check out Weirdomatic’s list of Weird Annual Festivals or Eccentric America’s guide to all things weird and wacky in the U.S.

All photos by Electrostatico (creative commons)

Tagged under: Asia, Asian, bizarre, celebrations, crazy, festivals, odd, Phuket, Phuket Vegetarian Festival, strange, tats, tattoo, tattoo festival, tattoos, Thailand, weird, Weirdomatic, world festivals

Matador ID: collazo

Julie Schwietert is the managing editor of Matador Network. She contributed a chapter to the recently published book, The Voluntary Traveler, and is currently working on five features for Fodor's Puerto Rico, 6th Edition.

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Comments (6)

6 Comments... join the discussion!

Coreafrica replied on August 14, 2008

AHHH *GROAN* !!! i can't look at these pics without feeling the pain! But then imagine the pain experienced by the meat on our plates, so suppose it's fair!
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Tim Patterson replied on September 29, 2008

they actually claim it's not painful – participants are in a trance an the swords go through their cheeks where there aren't many nerves…still, I'll stay away.
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CollazoProjects replied on September 29, 2008

But what about the scars?
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