Hit the Winter Festival Circuit

Oddball traditions say plenty about a culture

(NEWSER) - Forget museums and street markets. To truly understand a culture, travelers should take in its bizarre traditions. From fire walking to tomato hurling, Travel and Leisure looks at the world's most off-the-wall celebrations.

• Lopburi Monkey Buffet in Thailand: Each November, Lopburi's residents lay out a feast to appease the city's greedy monkeys.

Venice gondola ride? Totally overrated

(NEWSER) - There's nothing like traveling halfway across the world to visit a spot that doesn't live up to the hype. SmarterTravel rounds up 10 destinations that you should scratch from your bucket list:

1. Blarney Stone: Funny how its initials are BS. The line is long, and what you're waiting for is the chance to kiss something that hundreds of people smooched right before you.
2. Venice gondola ride: Sure, it's romantic, but unless you're Brad and Angie, you might balk at the $100+ price tag for a 40-minute ride.

Forget your ID in Japan, and end up in the pokey

(NEWSER) - An African safari is likely to be a bit more exciting than a day at Disney Land, but there comes a point where enough is enough. Turner Wright, writing in Vagabondish , runs down seven travel ideas that'll get you killed—or at least some quality time in the local clink:

• Running drugs, southeast Asia: Getting caught can put you on the wrong end of a firing squad or noose in places like China, Laos, and Singapore.
• Forgetting ID, Japan: Foreign residents who fail to carry their gaijin card at all times can get 23 days in the pokey.

(NEWSER) - With summer vacations increasing your chances of an extended stay at an airport, Travel + Leisure offers its annual list of airports likely to leave you grounded. The good news? Airports are getting better; even this year’s “winner” improved its delays by 3%. The list:

1. Newark: That 3% boost wasn't enough; it’s the only airport to delay 30% of its flights.

Hawaii's Hanalei Bay comes out on top in 'Dr. Beach's' annual list

(NEWSER) - The magnificent setting of Hawaii's Hanalei Bay helps make its beach this year's best in the US, according to Florida-based expert Steven "Dr. Beach" Leatherman. The runners-up, judged on 50 criteria including water quality and facilities:

• Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Fla.
• Coopers Beach in Southampton, NY
• Coronado Beach in San Diego