The eccentric tales of travel

There is a lot more to travelling than merely seeing the pretty sights. It is a well known fact that India is as much a hub for medical tourism as it is for the Taj Mahal. Similarly, other places around the world have made their mark for cashing in on their quirks. Here are a few of the strangest reasons why people choose to travel. To commit suicide in Switzerland Ludwig Minnelli started a clinic known as Dignitas near Zurich in Switzerland. The Dignitas clinic has now made him a multi-millionaire. The clinic is a safe haven for all those who wish to commit suicide. Minnelli's venture is very popular with the terminally ill, as each guest who wants to commit suicide is offered a barbiturate laced cocktail. Certain government authorities have not always been supportive of this 'tourist attraction'. And yet, the results of a recent vote show that a major chunk of the population are in favour of foreigners utilizing Dignitas and other such suicide clinics that have been mushrooming over the years. To buy sperms in Denmark Some countries have oil, some have diamonds, Denmark has sperms. A typical guy from Denmark is tall, blond and broad shouldered. It isn't hard to comprehend why women would want to include some Danish genes into their family mix. Being one of its chief exports - Viking sperm is usually 'deposited' anonymously (with a reward of $60 to $200 per donation). One of the most popular sperm banks in Denmark, Cryos, is the largest sperm bank in the world and attracts hordes of infertile tourists. Unlike other nations that often balk at the prospect of single mothers, Denmark welcomes them with open arms. Danish sperm banks have started opening franchise fertility clinics in various countries across the world, including India. To take a genocide tour in Cambodia In the dog-eat-dog pursuit of surviving in the current economic scenario, countries are open to monetizing anything that makes them unique - even if it is their gruesome past. Cambodian history has braved through a troubling genocide back in the 1970s. Today, in the city of Phnom Penh, smiling tuk tuk drivers ask you if you want to visit the 'killing fields'. This cavalier attitude towards sites of Khmer Rouge violence exemplifies Cambodian violence-tourism. Given that the country's unstable economy has hindered it from developing traditional tourism, they make the most of what they can. Museums feature wall after wall lined with headshots of those who lost their lives. Signboards placed at these locations request you not to laugh or smile, almost as if to remind you that though you might be on holiday, the horror that unfolded here is no laughing matter. To see an Indian ghost Did you know that during the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, tourists went beyond the traditional Delhi-Agra route? The sleepy town of Bhangarh in Rajasthan saw a decent amount of footfall too. Legend has it that ages ago, a tantrik called Singhia and the local princess, Rani Ratnavati, had a bit of a falling out. Black magic was used and the tantrik died, but not before cursing the palace. This town is known to give people the spooks. In fact, it is strictly prohibited to enter the fort post daytime. In the evening, people tend to hear the sound of a tinkling payal and see inexplicable sights. Whether or not the town is really haunted is a fact that nobody can be sure of. But even if it is a gimmick, it's been successful in attracting tourists.