Welcome to another edition of “Weird and Wacky Wednesdays,” where we dive into the bizarre antics of bad tourists and cross-border pranks. This week, we’re spotlighting some outrageous travel escapades that will leave you shaking your head in disbelief. From creative photo-blocking tactics in Japan to mid-flight nudity in Australia, and even airborne trash wars between North and South Korea, these stories prove that when it comes to bad tourists, anything is possible!
This is why we can’t have nice things
In the picturesque town of Fujikawaguchiko, Japan, authorities thought they had the perfect solution to manage the influx of tourists eager to snap photos of Mount Fuji—a huge black screen to block the view. But never underestimate the determination of a tourist with a camera! The screen, intended to disperse crowds and maintain order, was soon riddled with holes, as sneaky shutterbugs poked fingers through the mesh to capture that perfect shot.
Despite a security guard on duty and local officials lamenting the lack of manners, the screen achieved its primary goal of reducing congestion. However, it also became an unexpected attraction, with visitors now coming to see the infamous perforated screen itself!
Flying with the bare essentials
On a Virgin Australia flight from Perth to Melbourne, passengers were in for a shock when a man decided to add a bit of mid-air madness by running naked through the cabin. The unexpected streaker not only caused a commotion but also managed to knock over a flight attendant, forcing the plane to turn back to Perth.
As the airline staff followed protocol to deal with the disruptive passenger, the flight continued to Melbourne with a slight delay. Passengers recounted the surreal scene of yelling, screaming, and an unclothed man charging down the aisle, making it a flight they won’t soon forget. The man was arrested upon landing and is awaiting his day in court.
Flying the friendly skies of North Korea
In an unusual twist on travel restrictions, North and South Korea have found a new way to visit each other—via balloon. With traditional travel routes off-limits, these airborne visitors carry with them not souvenirs, but rather trash. North Korea has launched at least 260 balloons filled with rubbish into South Korea, prompting authorities to warn residents to stay indoors. The balloons, packed with everything from toilet paper to batteries, have been found across eight provinces. South Korea’s military has cautioned the public against touching these airborne “travellers,” which they describe as filled with “filthy waste and trash.”
This new form of “tourism” is North Korea’s retaliatory response to anti-Pyongyang leaflets and other items sent across the border by activists in the South. While South Korea has launched balloons carrying banned media and snacks, the North’s response is decidedly less appetizing. Authorities are now tasked with cleaning up the mess and analyzing the contents, as the tension between these two nations continues to inflate in the most literal sense.
