7 Cultural Forms of Transportation ...

1. Monte Toboggan Ride

This must be one of the most adventurous forms of transportation and is found in the Portuguese island of Madeira. Popular from the 1800s through the early 1900s, this throwback mode of transport is now used primarily as a draw for tourists. On a Monte Toboggan Ride, passengers are whisked down the mountainside from Monte to Funchal in a wicker or wooden toboggan, steered by two locals. At first glance, you might become nostalgic, as this thrill ride may recall your sledding days down the snowy hillsides of your youth...only the similarities end there, for on the Monte Toboggan ride, you’ll absolutely scream down an enormous mountain.

2. Chicken Bus

In Guatemala, the “chicken bus” transports not only people, but livestock as well. Different variations of this transportation mode can be found in many countries around the world. However, in Guatemala, the chicken bus is a U.S. school bus painted with eye-popping color and intricate design. If you’re not too chicken to give the chicken bus a shot, it’s better that you aren’t claustrophobic, as chicken buses are most often packed like sardine tins, and driven at the speed of light. However scary, your seatmate might actually be a real, live squawking chicken. So there’s that...

3. Dog Sleds

In Alaska, USA, you might be excited to find that it’s not just a constructed stereotype – people truly do use dog sleds as a form of transport. The sled is propelled over ice and snow, drawn by highly trained sled dogs. Get your John Thornton on, “Call of the Wild” style, and enjoy this mode of transport in Alaska’s snowcapped great outdoors. All sled dogs possess huge endurance and speed, and thus will sweep you across great distances quite quickly. This mode of transport has also become popular in other countries around the world during winter months, such as in Germany and Japan.

4. Rickshaws

The human-powered rickshaw, though largely replaced by modern transportation, has survived as a traditional form of transport in a number of Asian cities. In Kyoto, Japan and parts of India, you can even still find human-powered rickshaws being used practically, as some areas are inaccessible by cars. In order to cross varied types of terrain, many rickshaw drivers wear a special foot-glove which keeps them from slipping.

5. Habal Habal

In the Philippines, the Habal Habal is a multi-seated motorcycle, with the ability to transport whole families. With a seat extending over the rear wheel, small Habal Habals can seat around 4 or 5 people. The more complex variety uses the addition of wooden plank benches, and can seat up to thirteen people and their luggage. Without a doubt, the Habal Habal is one of the more hilarious-looking forms of transportation existing in the world.

6. Reed Boat

Lake Titicaca extends across both Peru and Bolivia and is home to the Floating Islands of the Uros. Inhabited by the ancient Uro tribe, these islanders use natural resources to construct homes and boats, amongst these resources, reeds. Reed boats are lightweight but surprisingly resilient. Often built in the shape of a dragon, legend has it that the ancient Incas used these boats to ward off evil spirits.

7. Camel

Though commonly viewed as a tourist attraction, in the Middle East, riding camel back is often a practical mode of transport as well. Camel riding hotspots exist everywhere in the Middle East but elsewhere too; whether in Morocco, Cairo, India, Dubai, Mongolia and even Australia, camel rides draw loads of tourists each year. Though there are many popular camel hotspots to choose from, one particular option is to cross the gorgeous rose-colored deserts of Wadi Rum in Jordan atop this majestic creature.

Have you ever been on any of these? Maybe you know of other forms of transportation that you’ve experienced you’d like to share with us?