1. Japanese railways hand out ‘certificates’ for delays of more than five minutes. Japanese trains are known for being the most punctual in the world. Because of this, they have a reputation to uphold. If a train is running more than five minutes behind schedule, they issue passengers a delay pass to show to bosses or teachers to explain a passenger’s tardiness.
2. On the island of Yap, a state of Micronesia, rocks are used as currency. A rock’s worth is based on its size and where it came from. Rocks are used for ceremonial transactions such as during weddings. Yap also uses turmeric, shells and cloth as official currency.
3. Sudan has more ancient pyramids than Egypt. It is claimed that Sudan is home to around 250 pyramids while Egypt is thought to have a little over 100.
4. India’s trains transport roughly 23 million passengers each day. India’s trains move basically the entire population of Australia every day! The tracks from India’s railway network could circle the globe one and a half times.
5. In Ethiopia the current year is 2013. Believe it or not, Ethiopia maintains its own calendar, and it is seven to eight years behind the standard calendar used across most of the world. The new year in Ethiopia also begins on August 29th or 30th.
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OCTOBER 2020