【推荐1】The world’s craziest festivals

Crazy festivals all over the world are out there just waiting to be celebrated. Join Cornelia Kumfert on a trip to the most unusual events taking place around the globe.

Burning Man Festival

Every year in Nevada (US) there is artwork and curiosities galore to marvel at when the Black Rock Desert changes into a mammoth art exhibition.

In August and September, some 7,000 people come here to celebrate the Burning Man Festival.

San Diego Comic Con

Surely superheroes don’t queue? Well, at San Diego’s Comic Convention they do. Each July they open their dos to fans of Superman and other comic figures. More than 100,000 annual visitors have paid homage to their mythical heroes.

Crying Baby Festival, Tokyo

At the Crying Baby Festival in Tokyo (Japan), sumo wrestlers do what they can to bring babies to tears.

Sadists run riot? Certainly not! It’s a 400-year-old tradition based on a Japanese proverb, which says that crying babies grow fastest and parents believe the event brings good health to their children.

Palio Contest, Siena

Fame and honour await the winner of the Palio contest in Siena (Italy).

In July and August, ten inhabitants of different districts of the city jockey for first place in a spectacular horse race.

The trophy goes to the contestant whose horse crosses the finishing line first—whether he’s still in the saddle or not.

【推荐2】I've been really lucky this year. Not only did I have the opportunity to live in France, but 1 was able to see some other countries with my girlfriend. Now she is studying in Essen, a large city in Western Germany. I recently went to stay with her----it was my first visit to Germany! Essen is a very large city. It has all the conveniences of any large city so I felt immediately at home. I love the variety of shops, restaurants, shopping malls, cocktail bars, nightclubs, parks and even a lake. There is also a city-wide network of trams（有轨电车）, which makes getting around a piece of cake!...

I found the people to be really friendly, and most Germans speak very good English, which made life easy for me. I was surprised by the casual attitude to alcohol in Germany, where it seems normal for people to drink beer on the street or on the tram. My girlfriend and I visited two famous local cities. Dusseldorf and Cologne, which are both on the Rhine River. Dusseldorf is an urban metropolis with a great variety of restaurants. We took a boat tour on the river and went up the Rhine tower, a really tall building which offers great views across the city. Cologne, as you might know, is world famous for its perfumes. The cathedral（大教堂）there is an unmissable landmark. We made the effort to climb to the top of one of the cathedrals tower, The spiral（螺旋的）stairs seemed endless. but it was worthwhile for the impressive sights from the top.

We also went in a cable car over the river and tasted a German delicacy called "Spaghettieis” which is ice cream with strawberry sauce! I also got to try the famous German sausage. I must admit, I really enjoyed the food! The only disappointment was the grey and rainy weather, which proves that Britain does not have the worst weather in Europe!

【推荐3】Seek out a Unique Beach

Oregon. For sun and fun away from the crowed beaches of Florida, check out the Oregon coast and its 363 miles of gorgeous shoreline, stretching from the Columbia River south to the redwood forests of California. Every beach is public and free. “The coast is a perfect place to watch sea lions sun themselves or simply see the mighty Pacific weaves crash in the sunset followed by a seafood feast in one of the busy fishing communities located between the coves（小海湾）,” says Bramblett. July and August aren’t peak gray whale migration season, but there’s still a good chance you could catch a glimpse of some of the 200 whales that spend the summers off the Oregon coast.

Next to a lighthouse. Imagine yourself an ancient mariner when you book a room overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Heceta Head Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast in Yachats, Oregon. The working lighthouse, which dated to 1894, cast a bright beam 21 miles out to sea, making it the brightest light on the Oregon coast. The cliff-top rooms at the Light Keeper’s home nearby aren’t cheap-you’ll sell out up to $385 for a weekend night during peak season (price includes a seven-course breakfast).

Dangerous currents Unless you love cold water (or wear a wet suit), you may not wait to venture into the sea off the Oregon coast, even during the summer. But if you do, be prepared for the U.S. Lifesaving Association. Swim parallel to the beach until you’re no longer being pulled out to sea, then swim diagonally（成对角线地）toward the shore.

Baby powder. Use a generous amount of baby powder to remove sand from your hands, feet or hair. The powder quickly absorbs moisture, allowing sand to fall off easily.

【推荐3】Only 50 years ago, computers were bigger than people. Nowadays, people can carry their laptops with them everywhere they go. Soon, we may be able to step inside a computer world thanks to the magic of virtual reality（虚拟现实）.

If something is virtual, then it is created by computer technology and appears as if it were real. Virtual reality is a computer system with a special headset（耳机）. When you put on the headset, you look at two tiny television screens. They are so close to your eyes that your mind will see the image as one picture, and you will believe that you have entered a different world. In many systems, you also wear a special data glove. With this glove you can reach out and touch things in the artificial world.

The first VR games, already sold around the world, enable you to drive a sports car, fly a plane, or fight an enemy. In the future, it may be difficult to tell the virtual world of the games from the real world outside. However, VR is not just for entertainment. One day, cheerful children will be able to learn geography by observing exciting foreign countries without having to leave their classroom. They will be excited to learn history by visiting the pyramids of Egypt, or by hand-feeding friendly dinosaurs. In addition, business will be able to use VR for many tasks. Cars designed using computers can be tested as virtual machines first, before they are produced in metal. Architects（建筑师） will be able to make virtual buildings, which they can walk around and check ahead of schedule. VR can help us in hundreds ways.

Despite the advantages, concerned critics have warned that there could be dangers in this powerful new medium. Will we have VR games in which people can commit virtual crimes（犯罪）? After people get used to VR, will they want to return to reality? Will we forget how to live and work with real people? On the other hand, some people think that VR will help us improve the world. By experimenting harmlessly inside a VR world, we will be able to see the dangers we may face in the future. Then we will be able to avoid them in real life.

No doubt there will be some problems with VR, as there are with all new inventions. However, one thing is for sure: VR is here to stay. Get ready to step into another world!