Unusual Archives - Com Namibia

Finland’s Turku Archipelago Offers the World’s Most Unusual Job (Video)

October 26, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

L’archipel de Turku vient de publier une publicité humoristique avec Lambert Wilson - Capture écran

PONANT

It’s probably the most fleeting and peculiar job in the world.

Visit Turku Archipelago, the tourism office for the Turku Archipelago in Finland, has just launched its “Get a Nose Job” campaign.

Thus, this unique place on Earth, where nearly 40,000 islands face the mainland, is offering to recruit a “nose” for a five-to-seven-day mission in the destination that has proclaimed itself the most fragrant in the world.

In May or June 2027, the fortunate winner will have to travel around the islands to “evaluate the scents of the sea air, pine forest aromas, saunas, and even freshly baked bread, and then describe them with enough precision to make people want to breathe them in.”

The experience must also be documented in photos and videos for the destination’s social networks,” states Creapills.

A job that calls for a keen sense of smell, but above all, it earned itself a spotlight that has been talked about worldwide.

The Turku Archipelago Is Looking for Its “Olfactory Detective”

To promote the archipelago, the tourism office had the idea of asking Lambert Wilson to let his nose roam across a few of the islands.

The opening scene of the video shows the French actor, well known abroad as well, in the middle of a conversation with his agent.

“When you told me I was going to do an ad on paradisiacal islands, I pictured the Caribbean, not the Baltic Sea.

What do you mean they think I fit the profile? I agree, Laurent, I think it smells very good, but I have better things to do in life than breathing seaweed“, protests the French actor.

Then we follow for two minutes the Matrix actor as he traverses the islands, sniffing in shops, saunas, and the forest.

The spot blends humor with travel imagery, while concluding with the proposition to become the nose and ambassador of the destination for a few days.

This humorous touch is regularly seen in Nordic destination videos. Iceland, a master in this field, notably parodied Meta’s metaverse, formerly Facebook.

Sweden, for its part, reminded that it should not be confused with Switzerland, as this happens regularly.

The Turku Archipelago Is the World’s Most Fragrant Destination

“We are convinced that the Turku Archipelago is the world’s most fragrant destination. Neither Paris, nor Athens, despite what some rankings may claim.

But such a claim needs proof, and our own nose is, alas, fallible. That is why we are looking for an objective person“, explains the Saaristo website, the Finnish name for the Turku Archipelago.

Potential candidates have until October 25 to apply. To do so, they must post a short video on Instagram or TikTok in which they declare their candidacy for the role of “olfactory detective”.

They must then choose an object, smell it, and give their opinion.

The job pays 2,000 euros.

Finland Offers Unusual Job: €2,000 to Smell the Scents of Its Archipelago

October 15, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Your nose can become, in this precise case, your best asset to land this atypical job abroad. Indeed! In Finland, the organization Visit Turku Archipelago is seeking a person with sufficiently clear nostrils to sniff out the pleasant scents of the Turku archipelago, which still comprises 20,000 islands. On the Saaristo site, literally “archipelago” in Finnish, the Nordic country explains being convinced that this region offers “the best smells in the world”.

“We now need a ‘Nose’ to snif f them and formalize this observation”, one can read in the press release, which shares a detailed job description and a promotional video presented by actor Lambert Wilson. “This is a genuine job, with a real contract and real pay. The only thing you need to bring is your nose”, it is stated. Jokesters, please refrain!

What missions?

The most serious and open-minded “noses” can apply for this five-to-seven-day mission scheduled for spring 2027, in May or June. It will be paid 2,000 euros gross, plus the statutory paid vacation allowance. Travel and accommodation will be covered by the local authorities. The work consists of traversing the islands guided solely by one’s sense of smell, exploring their natural scents: sea air, pine forests, damp rocks, wild herbs, bread fresh from the oven, blueberries from Pargas, or steam from the saunas of Rymättylä. Everything must be olfactively scrutinized.

The candidate will be required to document their experiences using photos and videos to first prove that the Turku Archipelago is the destination “that smells the best in the world”, but also to entice travelers to explore it. These contents will be used by Visit Turku Archipelago on social networks and other communication channels.

What profile are they seeking?

No degree from a perfumery school is required to apply. The ideal profile should be curious enough to “put their nose where others haven’t put theirs”, a lover of the finer things in life and comfortable discussing them on camera. The advertisement states that candidates must be at least 18 years old, authorized to work in Finland at the time of application and in May-June of the following year, and equipped with suitable gear for taking photos and videos, such as a smartphone.

Their presence on social media will also be taken into account in the selection.

To try your luck, you must publish a short video on a social network, Instagram or TikTok. The candidate should begin by introducing themselves, then pick an object, smell it, and explain what they perceive. “Show us your technique, because it matters. Tag @saaristo_finland, use the hashtag #SaaristoNoseJob and make sure your account is public so that we can see your video”, the announcement asks. Applications must be submitted before October 25, 2026 at 23:59 Finnish time or 22:59 French time. The name of the chosen “Nose” will be announced on November 17.

Canada’s Unusual Mummified Toe Cocktail Draws Thousands of Curious Visitors Each Year

October 12, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Drinking a glass of alcohol in which a real human toe has macerated may seem like a challenge… absurd! Yet, in a small, isolated Yukon town in northwestern Canada, this experience has become a must-see attraction for more than 50 years. Called the “Sourtoe Cocktail,” this drink is served according to a precise ritual, with a mummified limb whose bearer’s lips must inevitably touch the end. Behind this rather bewildering tradition lies a story of gold rush fever, frostbite, and colorful personalities, as explained by the BBC.

A frostbite-origin tale behind an unusual tradition

To understand how a human toe ended up in a glass, head for Dawson City. This town of around 2,300 inhabitants, located 531 kilometers from the nearest city, first earned its fame thanks to the Klondike gold rush. After the precious metal was found in the region in 1896, tens of thousands of prospectors rushed there in search of fortune. When the gold seekers eventually left for other territories, Dawson City retained its frontier-town atmosphere.

It is within this backdrop that the story behind the Sourtoe Cocktail is said to have begun. In the 1920s, during Prohibition in the United States, two brothers, Louie and Otto Linken, were allegedly caught in a violent snowstorm while smuggling liquor toward Alaska by dog sled. Louie, frostbitten after submerging his foot in icy water, reportedly ended up needing an amputation. According to local legend, his brother Otto then severed the toe with a hatchet, keeping it in a jar filled with alcohol.

It wasn’t until the early 1970s that this relic resurfaced. While cleaning an abandoned cabin that had belonged to the two brothers, a Dawson City resident named Dick Stevenson, known as Captain Dick, is said to have discovered the famous jar. In 1973, he decided to turn it into an unusual ingredient for a cocktail and invited his friends to try the experience. The Sourtoe Cocktail was born.

The concept is simple, but the rules are strict. Patrons must order a glass of alcohol, typically whiskey, into which the mummified toe is submerged. A single requirement applies: the lips must touch the toe. It, however, is forbidden to chew, suck, or swallow it. A sign even warns participants that they face a fine of 2,500 dollars (about 2,230 euros) if they ingest the piece of human body accidentally or intentionally.

A rite of passage that continues to draw more visitors

Today, the Sourtoe Cocktail has become one of the Yukon’s most famous curiosities. Around 140,000 people are said to have tried it, automatically joining the Sourtoe Cocktail Club. Their names are entered in a register after this very unusual tasting.

Terry Lee, one of the bartenders responsible for overseeing the ceremony, has held the role of Toe Captain for 13 years. During the peak summer season, he can serve between 75 and 100 cocktails per evening, during his four-hour shift. The drink is offered from May to September at the Sourdough Saloon, inside the Downtown Hotel, and then the rest of the year at the Sluice Box Lounge of the Eldorado Hotel.

“It’s considered something like a rite of passage. Many locals have done it”, Terry Lee told the BBC. The tradition has, however, experienced a few incidents. In 2013, a customer deliberately swallowed the toe, triggering a local scandal. Others have also accidentally swallowed some of the precious appendages.

To prevent the tradition from dying out, organizers now have about 25 toes at their disposal, used in rotation. Some come from posthumous donations. In 2018, a British athlete who suffered frostbite during the Yukon Arctic Ultra ultramarathon donated three of his toes. Dick Stevenson, the creator of the ritual, had himself donated all ten of his toes before his death in 2019.

This practice also reflects the distinctive character of Dawson City. Between its historic buildings, colorful façades, and quirky events, the town fosters a somewhat singular identity. “The Sourtoe has become a kind of strangely proud motif”, says Tara Kehoe, curator at the Dawson City Museum, to the BBC. Even those who refuse to drink the cocktail enjoy bringing their loved ones to witness the scene.

The popularity of this tradition also shows no signs of waning. In June, the Sourdough Saloon set a record by serving 156 Sourtoe Cocktails in a single evening. A testament that in this former gold-rush town, a simple mummified toe can still draw crowds.

Da Lat’s Crazy House: Vietnam’s Most Unusual Building

August 2, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

“Nature is the greatest teacher I have ever had.” With these words full of conviction, Dang Viet Nga, now 86, speaks of the work of her life: the Crazy House, whose construction began in the 1990s in Da Lat, in the southern region of Vietnam. Part guesthouse, part attraction, and a living architectural masterpiece, this place welcomes between 200,000 and 300,000 visitors each year and invites people to reconnect with nature and to respect it.

The adventure begins in the garden where colossal mushrooms loom beneath a giant canopy, then continues with an underwater immersion in the “water palace.” “Long before the emergence of modern cities, our ancestors sought refuge in caves and within forests, living in close harmony with the natural world. I wanted to recreate this bond“, explains the architect who graduated from the Moscow Institute. The buildings are conceived as enormous tree trunks and the communal spaces inspired by mountains. From chimneys shaped like bamboo stalks to animals that intrude into the rooms, the architectural details celebrating life are countless.

The fusion of a living space and a tourist site

In the Crazy House, the house becomes a tree and the tree becomes a house. Inside the trunks lie winding rooms. “I wanted people not only to admire nature, but to live within it,” explains the daughter of Hành Thiện, a small village in Nam Định province in northern Vietnam, a peaceful countryside where the air remains pure. Outside traditional hotel standards, this experience attracts an international clientele from Russia, Europe, the United States, or Asia. By merging a place to stay with a tourist site, Dang Viet Nga created an unprecedented hybrid concept that ensures the longevity of her work. “In the beginning, I funded the project myself, through loans from my family, friends, and banks. When the Crazy House began welcoming visitors and overnight guests, the revenues generated were directly reinvested into the project.”

Behind the “water palace” unfolds a darker outdoor space. Walkways crisscross, from which one can glimpse a façade bearing giant hands smeared with blood. “They symbolize violence and remind us that humanity must continue to overcome hatred and destruction.” A quest requiring perseverance that Dang Viet Nga, daughter of Trường Chinh — former general secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party — knows well. Construction on the Crazy House began in February 1990, the site opened in April, and it welcomed its first guests in January 1991. “One day, the Ministry of Tourism informed me I had only one month to complete ten rooms”, the artist recalls. Without hesitation, she hires sixty workers. “We worked day and night to meet the deadline.”

A journey filled with obstacles

Not to mention the challenge of getting such an unusual architecture approved. “When I submitted the idea, the plans showed only a trunk-shaped structure. It was interpreted as only a landscaping element and was approved.” But as the project progressed, the work grew into a five-story building. It took the rising enthusiasm of international tourists to overcome reservations and to win over the local community. “From then on, I felt encouraged to continue my work in line with my vision”, she confides.

At the summit stands the “Villa of the Sky,” crowning a path that moves from struggle to peace. A sense of fullness that Dang Viet Nga finally achieved. The final spaces of the Crazy House were completed in 2020, and her son is today in charge of her life’s work. More than a family succession, it is a life philosophy that the architect leaves as a legacy: “It is only by respecting and protecting nature that we can lead a peaceful and balanced life. I am glad that more and more people understand that it must be preserved for future generations.”