Have You Been Keeping An Eye On The Headlines?

1. Officials in Pairs erected a Christmas tree in November that caused condemnation amongst the usually jovial locals. Why was it so unpopular?

It did not complement the historic surroundings

It cost over €1 million to install

It was too bright

It looked like a giant sex toy

According to Parisians, the structure, that was later vandalised, resembled a giant sex toy.

Explanation

According to Parisians, the structure, that was later vandalised, resembled a giant sex toy.

2. What controversial New Zealand landmark lost the support of local authorities back in November?

The Wellington Y-front fence

The Cardrona bra fence

The Christchurch suspender bridge

A jockstrap-wearing sheep called David

Officials stripped the so-called Cardrona bra fence of its garments – created by hundreds of bra donors – because of fears it could distract drivers.

Explanation

Officials stripped the so-called Cardrona bra fence of its garments – created by hundreds of bra donors – because of fears it could distract drivers.

3. Two savvy Australian passengers got out of an excess baggage fine of US$130 by doing what this summer?

Giving away their garments

Wearing all their clothes

Hypnotising check in staff

Mounting a legal challenge

The duo got round Scoot airline’s baggage limit by donning all their clothes for the Sydney to Singapore flight. It was a sweaty victory.

Explanation

The duo got round Scoot airline’s baggage limit by donning all their clothes for the Sydney to Singapore flight. It was a sweaty victory.

4. Earlier this December Scientists found that mosquitoes, the arch enemy of the intrepid traveller, are attracted to which trait?

Bad breath

Bad body odour

Bad hairstyles

Low self-esteem

According to research mosquitoes have a craving for the waft of human BO, which could explain why so many people are bitten on or around their feet.

Explanation

According to research mosquitoes have a craving for the waft of human BO, which could explain why so many people are bitten on or around their feet.

5. It's been a busy year for North Korea, which unveiled its first ski resort at the beginning of 2014. But what issue plagued the attraction?

A lack of snow

Restrictions on international tourists

The crushing poverty of its citizens

All of the above

With no snow, no customers and a lack of interest from locals (who are more concerned about eating than hitting the slopes), the resort didn’t get off to the best of starts.

Explanation

With no snow, no customers and a lack of interest from locals (who are more concerned about eating than hitting the slopes), the resort didn’t get off to the best of starts.

6. In September we published the story of Jennie Wagstaff, who got stranded in the Salar de Uyuni. But in which country are these salt flats located?

China

Bolivia

Peru

Wales

The Bolivian salt flats, the largest in the world, are a major tourist attraction. You can read more about Jennie’s harrowing experience here.

Explanation

The Bolivian salt flats, the largest in the world, are a major tourist attraction. You can read more about Jennie’s harrowing experience here.

7. Officials in Berkhamsted, England were left red-faced this summer when they released a tourist map that resembled what?

A pair of testicles

A pair of boobs

A penis

David Cameron’s smug face

“We didn’t notice it. Somebody should have seen it,” lamented one tourism official, as the phallic map went viral. Any publicity is good publicity, right?

Explanation

“We didn’t notice it. Somebody should have seen it,” lamented one tourism official, as the phallic map went viral. Any publicity is good publicity, right?

8. In July we rounded up the 20 islands you never knew existed, including Isla de las Muecas in Mexico, but what gives the island its eerie charm?

Dismembered dolls hang from trees

The only inhabitants are witches

Voices echo from the forests

It’s home to the world’s largest graveyard

Rumour has it that the dolls were originally hung from trees by a former islander after witnessing a local girl drown in a canal. For more about this island, and the other 19 that made the cut, read the full article.

Explanation

Rumour has it that the dolls were originally hung from trees by a former islander after witnessing a local girl drown in a canal. For more about this island, and the other 19 that made the cut, read the full article.

9. In 2014 we witnessed a number of wild animals running amok in some of the world's major cities, but which of the following never really happened?

A monkey on the loose in Marseille

A tiger prowling the streets of Paris

An ostrich causing mayhem in London

A wallaby terrorising citizens of Berlin

Sadly an ostrich is yet to find itself wandering the streets of London. However strange, all of those other scenarios did genuinely happen in 2014.

Explanation

Sadly an ostrich is yet to find itself wandering the streets of London. However strange, all of those other scenarios did genuinely happen in 2014.

10. Why did masses of Viking hordes descend upon the English town of York in February 2014?

For the opening night of The Skull Crushers’ world tour

For a giant Viking-themed beer festival

To await the apocalypse

They were heading to Norway but got lost

Norsemen from across the UK arrived at the historic town for the final bloody battle with the inhabitants of Hel, as predicted in Norse Mythology.

Explanation

Norsemen from across the UK arrived at the historic town for the final bloody battle with the inhabitants of Hel, as predicted in Norse Mythology.