Nicole Carlson

Communities around the world come together to celebrate animals in these fun festivals. Pied Piper Duch Show Sydney, AustraliaDolled-up ducks waddle down the runway in Sydney during the Pied Piper Duck Show. These ducks, dressed from head to toe in haute couture, are a tribute to the stylish Abigail and Amelia from Disney’s Aristocats. Local farmer Brian Harrington has been working with professional dressmakers to outfit lucky ducks and geese for over 30 years, creating a unique event that parallels New York Fashion Week.www.webarchive.org/ Velas Turtle Festival Maharashtra, IndiaThe most important day of a turtle’s life is the day that it hatches and crawls toward the sea. At the Velas Turtle Festival, spectators gather to watch tiny turtles emerge from their eggs and make their trek to the ocean. The festival is a celebration of the once-endangered olive ridley turtle. Those who wish to attend this festival are advised to spend several days on the beach so they can be sure to witness the hatching process.traveltriangle.com/ Woolly Worm Festival North Carolina, USA Picture of a woolly bear caterpillar (woolly worm). The furry black and orange caterpillar is the larval stage of the Isabella Tiger moth.You might be familiar with Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-forecasting wonder of a groundhog, but have you ever heard about the meteorological abilities of woolly worms? When the woolly worm’s back is mostly brown, the winter will be mild. When the worm’s back is mostly black, the upcoming winter is predicted to be harsh. During the festival, worms participate in races. The owner of the fastest worm wins the honor of their woolly worm predicting the state of the upcoming winter.www.woollyworm.com Alpabfahrt Lucerne, SwitzerlandEach September, Switzerland is flooded with clopping hooves as 380,000 cows descend from the Alps and take to the streets in preparation for winter. Adorned with flower crowns and clanging cowbells, they parade in front of tourists and locals. The cows begin their trek at the top of the mountains at dawn. Along their path, local vendors sell goods and parade-goers celebrate with music and dance. At the end of the day the cows take a well-deserved rest in the local stables.www.swissclubnsw.com/ Monkey Buffet Lopburi, ThailandOnce a year in Thailand, residents throw a feast for an unlikely population: monkeys. In the days leading up to the festival, locals distribute party invitations (complete with a cashew treat) to the monkeys. On the day of the celebration, performers don monkey costumes and lure the macaques out of the forests with a dance. The monkeys are met with several tons of food on banquet tables inside the ruins of a thirteenth-century templewww.ripleys.com/ Festival de Aves Viña del Mar, Chile If you want to see a beautiful array of tropical birds, look no further than the Pacific coast of Chile. Each fall, professional birdwatchers and novices alike gather in Viña del Mar to catch a glimpse of more than 140 breeds of birds in their natural environment. Festival attendees can embark on guided excursions, attend lectures given by ornithologists, or set off on their own to see what birds they can find.festivaldeaves.cl/—Sarah Helzer

Lamb is as versatile a meat as any—whether fried, chopped, or stewed, it is the star ingredient in countless delicious recipes. One of the first animals ever domesticated, sheep have long been used for food both for their meat and their milk. Lamb meat comes from a sheep that is less than one-year-old. After one year, the meat is called hogget, and after two years the meat is called mutton. Though different countries may vary in their definitions of what these categories of sheep meat are called, lamb is always the most expensive because it is the most tender.Due to the widespread domestication of sheep, lamb recipes can be found all over the world. It is fascinating to see how different cultures have taken this classic ingredient and turned it into something spectacular.

Stretching from France to Slovenia and covering 1,200 kilometers (750 miles), the Alps are a prominent foundation for European culture. Travelers today, like those of the past, are inspired by these beautiful and imposing mountains. Over the years, stories of legendary travelers who traversed these breathtaking mountains have been passed down from generation to generation. Under the UrdenseeCenturies ago, a feeble old woman made her way to a humble hut in a valley. She begged for some food and drink from the sneering farmer. The farmer turned her away, refusing to feed a beggar. Despite her pitiable protests, he bid her to leave.

Imagine Portugal, 1949. Your eyes dart around the marketplace, scanning the merchandise as you weave in and out of the crowds. The smell of the dust being kicked up keeps you alert; you’re on the hunt. People are shouting, haggling, arguing, advertising. This world is very unlike the one you left behind; it’s full of myth and legend.

African textiles are unforgettable. Immediately recognizable, the beautiful weaves of bright colors and bold patterns capture the eye and refuse to let you go. This iconic fashion style is found across the globe and honors a wide variety of tradition and culture.

Have you ever wanted to travel cheap, experience a new culture, and learn new career skills? Try exploring the world through the Workaway community! Workaway is an organization that connects travelers with hosts who need work done. From house-sitting to homesteading, Workaway can connect you with the accommodations you need in exchange for about four to five hours of labor a week (with weekends off).