Uphill ride: A grandmother of six from Bolivia isn’t afraid of a challenge. Mirtha Munoz is the oldest person to ever participate in her country’s Skyrace. This race is entirely uphill and takes place on the “Death Road,” so named for its dangerous 60-kilometre (37-mile) route from lowland to mountain peak. Munoz has been biking for many years, so did not think the race was a big deal. However, it’s very different from the leisurely rides she and her grandchildren enjoy together.

Cash give-away: Some people living in a low-income district of Istanbul, Turkey, recently had something to cheer about. A mysterious man came into the neighbourhood and paid off their debts. The man went into a grocery store wanting to know who owed money to the store. After asking to meet some of these folks, he came back to the store and paid their debts. The unknown man also placed cash in envelopes and put them on the steps of the homes of families in need. When the grocery store owner asked who he was, the man would not say, but suggested they could consider him Robin Hood.

Luxurious water house: Anyone wanting to live in a luxurious home, which is also a boat, can fork over $5.5 million (USD) to buy a floating home called the Arkup. It is set up like a real home, complete with living room, lounge, four bedrooms, a kitchen, and lots of windows through which to enjoy ocean views. Available in Miami, Florida (U.S.), it is a perfect vessel for touring coastal waters, although it’s not built to travel in rough seas. It has a rainwater purification system and solar energy, as well as hydraulic stilts, should the owner choose to raise it out of the water.

Clean water: In a city in Japan, colourful koi fish swim in the drain channels that border the streets. The city of Shimabara islocated on Kyushu Island. The water is exceptionally clean in these drain channels because of an earthquake that happened over two centuries ago. The quake caused freshwater springs to gush. In more recent years, city officials decided to stock the channels with the fish, which today are a tourist attraction. Shimabara is known as the City of Swimming Carp. There areonly a few other towns in Japan with fish swimming in their drain gutters.

Two names: In Tamaulipas, Mexico, a pet cat has two owners who did not know about each other until recently. Mary Lore Barra calls the cat “Pixi,” and she was accustomed to her pet being away for a few days at a time, presumably on the prowl. Then one day Pixi came home with a new collar. Barra put a note under the collar identifying the cat as Pixi and herself as Pixi’s owner. Soon Pixi came home with a note from another family, who call the cat “Huarache.” Luckily, the two owners think it’s a funny situation, and they continue to share Pixi/Huarache.

ATM captive: A contractor in Corpus Christi, Texas (U.S.), was just trying to do his job. He was fixing a lock in the automatic teller machine (ATM) room when he locked himself in. The man had left his cell phone in his vehicle, so he couldn’t call for assistance. Instead, he wrote notes asking for help and fed them through the receipt slot of the ATM. People using the machine thought the notes were a joke. But finally, one person took it seriously and called police, who broke down the door and got him out.

Rustic ramblings: Travellers to South America who want to go somewhere off the beaten track could try visiting Cabo Polonio, Uruguay. Located on the Atlantic coast and only a few hours from luxurious beach resorts, this isolated village attracts those who don’t care about the comforts of a modern home. There is no electricity or running water in the rustic cottages, and only a few people with generators have Wi-Fi. But the people who live there like it that way. Villagers use well or rainwater, and they cook by candlelight. The land is a designated national park and is a beloved destination of backpackers.

New friend: A man on a hike to raise money for men’s health found a new friend along the way. Max Adams was on a long trek in an area near High Prairie, Alberta, Canada. When on a side road, he could hear a loud meowing, which turned out to be a half-grown kitten sitting in the snowy branches of a tree. Adams took the desperate little feline with him because he couldn’t imagine leaving it such a long distance away from any homes. He tried to find the owner, to no avail. After the kitten was tended by a vet, Adams took it home ashis own pet.

Stolen goods: A woman in St. Paul, Minnesota (U.S.), was miffed when she discovered that a package she ordered had been stolen from her porch. Hilary Smith received a text saying that the package, which contained a phone charger, had been delivered, so she expected to find it upon arriving home from work. In its place was a handwritten note thanking her for leaving the package on her porch so it could be stolen. The thief signed the note, “The new owner of your package.” Police in the area are warning residents to have parcels delivered when someone is home to receive them.

Beautiful harvest: Some farmers in Bangladesh work in an environment of great beauty - at least during the time of harvest. These farmers collect water lily blossoms in the Canal of Water Lilies in the country’s Barisal district. They paddle their long wooden boats through a sea of green leaves and deep pink water lily flowers, collecting the blossoms as they go. Collection is done carefully and by hand. These blossoms are a popular item at local markets, where the farmers go to sell their floral gems.

High design: A city high in the mountains of Bolivia is getting a facelift. El Alto, close to the administrative city of La Paz, is enjoying attention because of the building designs of architect Freddy Mamani. He calls his style New Andean architecture. His modern buildings, called cholets, are usually several stories high with shops at street level, party and gallery space in the next levels, and living space on the top floor. The designs combine vibrant colours and geometric shapes reminiscent of indigenous textile patterns. For Mamani, the architecture of his buildings is a way of promoting his culture’s pre-Columbian roots.

Tree tuggers: A group of friends who like to run took part in the Cape Town, South Africa, marathon, but they were doing more than just running. The group ran the race with tree saplings tied to their backs. Their purpose was to raise awareness about the country’s problem with invasive species, which are taking over indigenous plants. One of the runners, Siyabulela Sokomani, ran with a wild olive sapling, and he sports tattoos of his favourite trees. He and his fellow runners support the nationwide effort to plant trees and rid the country of the damaging species.

Garden solution: If you want to get rid of a nest of bugs in your backyard, don’t use gasoline and a match. That’s what Cesar Schmitz discovered. His wife didn’t want the bugs to eat her lovely garden on their property in Enéas Marques, in southern Brazil. So, with an audience of two pet dogs, Schmitz poured gas into the bug nest and tried unsuccessfully to light it with a match. Finally, on the third try, the gas ignited. Sod flew everywhere and the dogs took off on a run. Luckily, Schmitz was in a safe place, but he had to replant the garden!

Nose for golf balls: The elderly Barry Gell of Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, loves playing golf, and he never has to buy golf balls. That’s because he trained his collie, Jess, to sniff out lost balls on the golf courses in the area. Over a 12-year period, Jess has found more than 50,000 balls, some even buried in mud. The smart pooch never nabs one that’s in play, only lost ones. Gell uses some of the balls and gives some away, but he still has so many that he doesn’t know what to do with them all. Jess has even discovered antique golf balls lost decades ago by golfers.

Flare for drama: A horse named Jingang, who shares a name with a town in China, has gained fame through social media postings showing his acting abilities. This smart steed has a unique way to avoid giving people rides. He lies down on the ground and refuses to get up until the would-be rider walks away. Not even a carrot or a sugar cube will lure him up! Apparently, Jingang does give people rides, but he plays this trick when he doesn’t want to cooperate. 

Living simply: Daniel Price doesn’t need much to live on. Originally from the state of Kentucky (U.S.), he now lives in the state of Oregon in a hillside dugout in the forest. He considers himself a “minimalist.” Many years ago, he left his job as a photojournalist to try to live as simply as possible. Before making his dugout, he lived in tents, a teepee, a hut, and a shed. He has made his dugout comfortable with rugs and furnishings, and he even has electricity. He pays only $100 (U.S.) a month in rent to the land’s owner, and he has a self-imposed annual budget of $5,000 to pay for all his needs.

Splashy entrance: Guests at a wedding in Anglesey, Wales, got a big surprise when the groom arrived at the venue. Wearing his tuxedo, Matt Knight rode a wakeboard behind a boat on the Menai Strait. Accompanying him were his groomsmen - brother Chris and friend Paul - who also wore tuxes. The three did a few tricks for the assembled guests who were waiting outside the hotel where the nuptials would be held. The trio were soaking wet, of course, but all had dry formal wear waiting for them. The bride, Kirsty, loved the show and said the groom made the exciting entrance due to his love of James Bond movies.

Extras: Finding chocolates on the pillow is a nice experience when staying at a hotel. Some luxury hotels are known to offer outlandish “extras” which may be part of the room rate or may incur an extra charge. A Fender guitar, for example, is available to Hard Rock Hotel guests around the world who choose the “Sound of Your Stay” program. The Acqualina Resort in Miami, Florida (U.S.), provides a Rolls-Royce Ghost to those renting a certain deluxe suite. And, if you are athletic, you can enjoy a free acrobatic skills program from Cirque du Soleil while staying at Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.