Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

There's an entire world of attractions out there that inspire us, make us look beyond the borders of our day-to-day world and marvel at the astonishing array of expression the world holds. Then there are these places.

A visit to these unique attractions is strictly for the eccentric tourist, offering up a prime opportunity to take a peek behind the curtain of normality and quite possibly go a little crazy in the process.

From parasites to skeletal displays, here are 10 outrageous attractions across the globe.  

Mexico:  Island of the Dolls

If the demonic toy Chuck from movie “Child's Play” creeps you out, do not click play on the above video or go anywhere near this island. Started in memory of a young girl who drowned in the waters nearby, The Island of the Dolls is a strange collection of mutilated dolls, some with their eyes plucked and their arms and legs removed, hanging from the island’s trees.

After finding the dead body of the child, the island’s sole resident decided to create this haunted doll-sanctuary in honor of her death.  So, if you happen to hear the faint cry of a little girl amongst this jungle of fake babies, it may be her soul beckoning you to come and play.

 Germany: The Waldsassen Basilica

The Waldsassen Basilica is no ordinary sanctuary. Once you have stepped inside this baroque chapel, you will be greeted by skeletons decorated in lavish 18^th century jewelry and clothing, along with an armless statue of Christ. 

These ‘Holy Bodies’ were Christian martyrs who were dug up from their graves in Rome and are now presented like art and preserved in luxurious glass cases throughout the church. Outfitted and posed for the benefit of inquisitive onlookers, these eerie cadavers make this one of the strangest churches in the world.

Poland: The Crooked Forest

The sight of the Crooked Forest may make you cock your head in disbelief. This wilderness of approximately 400 pine trees is a grand oddity of trunks bent at the bottom in a gentle curve, all pointing northward. 

It is believed that this remarkable woodland was created by carpenters who manipulated the wood in order to make furniture.  Whether manmade or a freak of nature, the Crooked Forest is undeniably one of the most uncanny sites on the planet.

Nebraska: Largest Ball of Stamps

Measuring over 32 inches and boasting a weight of 600 pounds, the Leon Myers Stamp Center is home to the world’s largest Ball of Stamps.  Starting with a single stamp in the 1950s and eventually growing to a masterpiece of over 4,600,000 stamps stuck together, this philatelic marvel really makes you stop and think about the amount of saliva applied over the many years to create this bizarre phenomenon.

Japan: Noodle Bath

If you want to step up your bath experience from the ordinary water and soap, head to the noodle bathhouses of Japan. That's right; bathhouses. Plural. Instead of noodles, customers are the main ingredient and can be seen soaking in a bath bowl, similar to the famous ramen noodle cup spiced with pepper, garlic and other mouthwatering ingredients (or at least formerly mouthwatering, before someone went and bathed in them). Its flavors are expected to change the state of minds on the bathers, while rejuvenating their skin.

So the next time you are craving a bowl of ramen noodles, head to Japan to become one with the ingredients.

Poland:  Upside-Down House

We've heard of being upside-down in a mortgage, but this is ridiculous.  The atly named Upside-Down House in Poland offers a new meaning to flipping house by giving a 180 degree spin on the way we live.

 You will be walking on ceilings and bouncing off walls like a maniac because even the inside is inverted.  To take its madness up a notch, the house’s furnishings are also hung upside-down — let’s see you try to get into bed with it hanging above your head.

Turkey: Avanos Hair Museum

Avanos Hair Museum may be one of the most hair-raising tourist attractions to date. Established in 1979, it is eccentrically decorated with about 16,000 locks of hair donated by visitors.

 Its origins came about when a potter’s friend chopped a piece of her hair as a gift of remembrance. The potter displayed the hair in his shop and treated customers to the story when they came in, which propelled them to leave a piece of their own hair in the store as well. 

Now every nook and cranny of the museum’s spaces are filled with colorful locks. Once you are amid this elaborate display, try not to get yourself into a hairy situation.

Tokyo: Parasite Museum

If you are looking for a skin-crawling adventure look no further, as the Parasite Museum makes you squirm with their plethora of bloodsucking organisms.

You may be thinking, "What’s so interesting about a parasite?" Oddly enough, the way this museum displays the many species of insects and the different roles they may serve will take you on an educational journey. However, you would be excused if this educational journey gives you a serious case of the heebie-jeebies (which are not part of the display, but should be).

The Parasite Museum, it goes without saying, is not for the squeamish.

Texas: Toilet Seat Museum

Who knew the royal thorne would make a fascinating display?

Barney’s Smith’s Toilet Seat Museum began as an odd hobby and escalated into a myriad of stylish toilet seat covers vibrantly decorated and hung proudly.  Fashioned by Barney Smith, a retired plumber, his plaque-shaped creations are a big hit amongst locals and have even made appearances on San Antonio’s local TV stations.

 The next time you happen to be in the San Antonio area, take a porcelain pilgrimage to the Toilet Seat Museum, and you will never look at your commode the same again.

 Seattle: Gum Wall

The next time you step on a wad of gum, don’t get annoyed.  Simply scrape it off and make your way to Seattle’s Gum Wall to make an addition to the city’s chewiest collection. To some spectators, this attraction may seem pretty gross, but it does offer something uniquely attractive. With such a vibrant display of chewing gum found on every inch of the wall, even Bazooka Joe himself would be in awe.

The Gum Wall offers a memory that will not only stick like glue but will finally give you a socially acceptable place to stick your Juicy Fruit after it has lost its flavor.