What is your hobby?
Imagination knows no boundaries: 10 bizarre hobbies
Image: Cristine Despares
Imagination knows no boundaries, especially when it comes to finding ways to entertain itself. For most of us, a hobby might involve having a stamp collection or pruning the garden. But for some people, that is not enough. If you think that building tiny ships inside bottles is an odd hobby, you will be amazed by the following 12 activities that some humans indulge in.
1
Extreme ironing
Image: Eric Vö
There is nothing extreme about ironing if you do it the usual way. But what if you were to iron your shirts atop a mountain peak ? Believe it or not, ironing clothes in extreme environments is a thing. There is even a world record for the most outrageous example of extreme ironing, which was set 200 feet underwater in 2011.
2
Worm charming
Image: sippakorn yamkasikorn
Worms are not the first creatures that come to mind when one thinks of interactive animals. However, they do respond to certain stimuli, especially vibrations on the ground and sound.
A small but dedicated group of people devote themselves to the odd hobby of worm charming, attracting worms from the ground using vibrations, sound, and other ingenious methods . This unusual activity requires patience and a gentle touch, but for its followers, it is very rewarding.
3
Toy voyaging
Image: Barrett Ward
Whoever saw the early 2000s movie Amélie will recognize this one. Some people have small toys that accompany them on vacations and appear in photos at famous landmarks , which are then uploaded to their Instagram and Facebook accounts.
4
Soap carving
Image: Aurélia Dubois
As it turns out, soap can be used for more than just washing and bathing. Yes, a particularly fragrant soap placed in your sock drawer will add a pleasant scent each time you open it. But this is something entirely different. Some people carve soap bars into intricate sculptures , using small knives or other fitting instruments.
5
Human knotting
Image: engin akyurt
A hobby can also be a group activity. In some parts of the world, groups of people engage in the challenging task of tying themselves into a human knot , and then work together to find creative solutions and untangle the puzzle without letting go . It's like Twister, but without the board underneath.
6
Geocaching
Image: Jamie Street
A sort of digitally-aided treasure hunt, geocaching is a fun hobby that requires a hand-held GPS receiver or a phone app to guide participants to a destination where a hidden container is stored . Once found, the participant logs their visit in an included logbook and can also trade one of the many small items inside the container for one of their own. Sounds like fun, right?
7
Trainspotting
Image: Silver Ringvee
Other than being a movie and a book, trainspotting is also a hobby where enthusiasts, you guessed it, spot trains. Train spotters often watch trains and track the number of each engine , as well as share information about the whereabouts of the trains, technical data, and specific characteristics.
8
Duck herding
Image: Vlad Tchompalov
Most people have heard of sheep herding, but what about duck herding? This hobby is performed as a team effort with trained sheepdogs who know how to maneuver a group of geese or ducks back into their pen . This unusual activity is suitable for all ages and fitness levels, making it a great team-building exercise for corporate groups.
9
Historical cooking
Image: Alyson McPhee
Several YouTube channels feature expert and amateur chefs cooking historical recipes and then tasting the results. This fun activity involves trying out recipes from the past , some dating back centuries, as far back as recipes can be found, and appreciating flavors that are not around anymore.
10
Ghost hunting
Image: Jesse Bowser
As the name suggests, ghost hunting is a hobby that involves investigating and documenting paranormal activity in order to capture evidence of ghostly sightings or encounters . This activity does not require participants to believe in the existence of ghosts, but rather to enjoy the thrill of visiting eerie places filled with spooky stories.
11
Mobile phone throwing
Image: Vojtech Bruzek
If you've ever felt the urge to throw your mobile phone in frustration over a situation, this hobby might be for you. Mobile phone throwing is a competitive sport in which contestants throw phones and are judged based on their technique and the distance covered. This hobby originated in Finnish culture, and it was started by Nokia, known for its reputation as an unbreakable "brick" that supposedly outlasts all our smartphones.
12
Painting memes
Image: Crystal Mapes
Memes are, by nature, ephemeral creations, meant to last for a while before fading into obscurity. However, some kind souls have taken up meme painting as a hobby, giving these digital images a more elevated existence as works of art .
