The most-traveled country, anti-terror tourism, your dream adventure job and more

Oliver Pelling

August 24, 2017

Plus the blue dogs of Mumbai, travel warning for two popular Mexican tourist destinations and the world's fastest train back on track.

This week, an Israeli company’s foray into anti-terror tourism, the US State Department issues a travel warning for two popular Mexican destinations, and the peculiar case of the blue dogs of Mumbai.

Anti-terror tourism proves a hit in Israel

Anti-terror tourism is taking off in Israel, where punters can exchange cold harsh cash for a role-playing, terrorist-fighting adventure. Caliber 3 opened its doors in 2003 as a training camp for security professionals, but the company has since diversified its portfolio and is now offering anti-terrorism courses, during which travelers are schooled on the basics of weapon handling and the Israeli military’s martial art, Krav Maga. The company currently pulls in some 25,000 anti-terror tourists a year. So if you’re feeling a little too relaxed after floating around in the Dead Sea, a visit to Caliber 3 might be the perfect pick-me-up.

Burning Man set to burn again

Burning Man 2017 kicks off next week, and will see tens of thousands of travelers from across the world descend on an enormous patch of Nevadan desert. Championing community, creativity and connectedness, the ‘temporary metropolis’ has been an annual sanctuary for the world’s free-spirited types since 1986. If you can’t make it this year, fret not: This week, Adventure.com’s very own photo editor, Nicola Bailey shared some of her surreal and celebratory photos from her last visit.

'The Best Job Ever' open for applications

Travel booking site kimkim have this week posted a job ad billed as ‘The Best Job Ever’. The officially-titled ‘Global Travel Specialist’ role will see the successful applicant work from locations in Nepal, Italy, Iceland and Peru over the course of 12 months, with (relatively vague) responsibilities including creating travel content, working with local partners and recruiting new local partners. As far as the essential qualifications go, kimkim are looking for “smart, entrepreneurial world travelers” with experience in travel planning. If this sounds like you, you might want to drop them a line.

US issues travel warning for Cancun and Los Cabos, Mexico

The US State Department has warned people against traveling to Cancun and Los Cabos amid a spike in violent crime and shootings in which bystanders have been killed. The destinations, two of Mexico’s most popular for US tourists, have been pulled into a drug-related turf war that has already swept through other parts of the country. Mexico is currently ranked the eighth most popular travel destination in the world, and tourism accounts for some seven per cent of the country’s GDP, pulling in $20 billion per year.

Irish officially get around more than any other country

Ireland has been named the most traveled nation in the world, according to new research from Hostelworld, an online hostel-booking website. In data that included over 170 countries and stretched back to 2014, the Irish trumped everywhere else when it came to the amount of overseas trips per capita. The Irish are trailed by Australia at #2 and New Zealand at #3, whilst the United States didn’t make the top 10.

Sweden's ban on spontaneous dancing queens

A bizarre 1970s law that banned spontaneous dancing is Sweden is still causing problems, despite the Swedish government last year promising not to prosecute anyone caught in the act. The law, which states that bars and clubs must own a license for people to dance in them, has seen police impose fines and even prison on those who disregard it. If all of the original members of Abba weren’t still alive, we’re sure they’d be turning in their graves.

The world's fastest train back on track

China has relaunched the world’s fastest train after two crashes in 2011 killed 40 people. The Fuxing (rejuvenation) bullet trains can reach speeds of around 220 mi/h and will take passengers between Beijing and Shanghai in just three hours.

The peculiar case of the blue dogs of Mumbai

Pollution from a nearby manufacturing company has caused a group of dogs in Mumbai to turn blue. Sightings of the dogs, first pictured on August 11, prompted locals to complain to the local pollution control board and after an investigation, the offending company was swiftly shut down. Aside from their peculiar coloring, the pooches were allegedly otherwise unharmed.

What else?

Elsewhere, the US’ first total solar eclipse in 40 years spawned some of the most stunning photos of the year so far, Australia has introduced a ‘meat pie burger’ (that’s a burger patty between two meat pies), an American company has released a kayak that can be folded up into a backpack, and a group of divers successfully rescued four car-sized sharks after they got tangled up in a fishing net.