The dictionary definition of hobbies is an activity or interest pursued for delectation or felicity and not as a main vocation. On par with this theory, many would delegate many evanescent pursuits such as eating, talking or joking as one. On contrary to normal beliefs, people earn money doing their hobbies, which in other words means that somebody managed to turn a hobby into a job. Did you know that there are so many millionaires in this world, who would never have achieved what they did, if there field of success was not their hobby!
Let’s take an example of an application that was created as a hobby, and is now a part of everyone’s life – Facebook. Do I need to tell you the rewards Mark Zuckerberg has received because of his hobby? Hobbies depend on several factors: lifestyle, their native home, preference, family background and many more. Based on these factors, there is something really unusual about hobbies and interests. They alternate from person to person distinguishing one personality from the other. They also bring variant people together, taking the mind off the monotony that sets in with the daily routine.
The best thing that can happen to you is to be able to live your hobby every day, making a living out of doing what gives you a sense of pleasure and satisfaction. Exotic hobbies can, thus, be divided into several categories: hobbies relating to Nature, hobbies relating to Sports and Adventure, hobbies relating to Technology, Life-style related hobbies, Creative hobbies and many more. Applying an example from each of these categories, an exotic hobby list can be formed. Taphophilia. ‘ Taphophile’ is the name given to someone who takes an interest in cemeteries, tombstones, or memory of past lives.
As translated from Greek, ‘ Taphophilia’ is a morbid interest in ’dead things’. Many people would, erroneously, confuse ‘ Taphophilia’ would confuse it with Necrophilia, which means to have a sexual or physical attraction for the dead. Anticipating an awkward look once mentioned this word, many would argue how this mutual interest would be a hobby. Well, Taphophilies indulge their love in many ways, such studying epitaphs, exploring cemeteries, grave rubbing and many more. However, the most prevalent of these hobbies would be grave rubbing.
In fog-ridden, gloomy places such as Forks, Arizona or Phoenix, thousands of people would be seen going up to graves of famous people and studying it. Experienced taphophiles would know the signs to characterize graves and categorize them as ‘ Rich-person’,’ ‘ middle-classed individual’, ‘ low-income person’, ‘ knighted’, ‘ Lord/Lady’, ‘ Earl/Baron/Marquis/Marquessrion’ or even ‘ King/Queen’. Such classification would be considered as discrimination. Nevertheless, it is considered as beguilement, a diversion from the stressful world. They would merrily take photographs or buy souvenirs and pass much of their time away.
However, there are some who take the literal meaning of grave rubbing, that is actually poach something from the graves of such famous people. These ‘ poachers’ should strive keep to collecting items that are purchased legitimately. This looks innocuous until the wildfire spreads and many people start collecting ‘ items’ on their own, causing the cascade of hoarding and grave theft. Plenty of our national heritage have been abolished due to such ‘ harmless’ collection. Such people need to comprehend that there are other means to collecting such memoirs (purchasing cheap look-alikes from local convenient stores).
More so, people also have to take note that purchasing these stolen mortuary items is illegal and that these item comes from the preserved cemeteries in the real world and obliterating the artistry for a specific locale. Other than this detriment, grave rubbing one of the well-visited graves is the Highgate Cemetery, located near London boasts a vast number of famous graves such as Karl Marx, now known as the ‘ Highgate Vampire’. This Victorian cemetery has an interesting attitude towards death and a captivating presentation of wealthy gothic structures and great mausoleums, including the richly decorated Egyptian Avenue.
Though many would call these hobbies morbid, dreary and aberrant, people still engage themselves in it, in hope of expelling their stress and anxieties. One such benefits of this hobby would be the acquiescence to abnormal facets/elements. People would learn to live without the ‘ doubting-Thomas’ theory. More so, an achievement of vast knowledge might come to possession. Another benefit of this hobby would that it is interconnected with a vast number of others such as photography, painting, sculpting and even might inspire others to be a Pac rat. Such an morbid hobby is now said to have such prudent benefits.
Do not judge a book by its cover” Amateur Astronomy. Amateur Astronomy, also known as Backyard Astronomy or Stargazing, is a hobby in which its members bores at the night sky, richly decorated by celestial objects such as planets, stars and galaxies with the use of portable telescopes and binoculars. The world of Stargazing is full of mysteries and abstruseness, waiting to be discovered. After a long day at work or at school, many would find themselves worn to the bone, consumed, narcoleptic and disinterested in doing any further tiresome hobbies. To these people, Stargazing would be eminently suggested.
Simply pick up the nearest binoculars or telescope, bore at the sky and unravel yourself in the pulchritudinous beauty of the dark night. As the setting sun fast approaches, equip yourself for there is a vast, wondrous, delectable, riveting and spellbinding universe up there, awaiting you. Contrary to accustomed belief, you do not really require a telescope or binoculars to envision the enthralling scenes in the sky. By possessing sight, you can see comets, constellations, stars, planets, the moon, nebulae (the birth of the sky) and mayhap even a galaxy.
We humans credit ourselves with the invention of many interesting and fascinating inventions such as television, computers and a plethora of other inventions, but are quite illiterate when it comes to our own celestial objects. You can, thus, expect a weird look or two when mentioning even the simplest of nebulae such as the Crab nebulae and the constellation, Orion belt. A common misinterpretation that most people have when it comes to stargazing would be, as mentioned before, that one does not require a telescope.
For most people, thinking that their child might be even remotely interested in stargazing, rushing out to but the telescope would be a colloquial act. However useful and wonderful an astronomy telescope is, there are a few things that a prospective purchaser should make note of such as its ridiculous price and the mandatory patience, skill and knowledge on how to us it. Though stargazing is great and an interesting hobby, there are a few setbacks to it. Firstly, for most stargazers, the light pollution elicited throughout the years imposes a threat to stargazing.
As technology advances, light pollution is much a concern as air pollution. It is excessive, unobtrusive and misdirected artificial light. To reduce such pollution, everyone has to play a part. Firstly, one must turn off all lights that are not in use. More so, people are encouraged to reduce power wastage as this may lead to light pollution, an annoyance and threat to stargazing. Pooktre Art. Pooktre art is, according to the dictionary, also known as Tree-shaping, the cultivation or training of trees or other woody plants into artistic shapes or useful structures. Pooktre is an exclusive, unique eco-art that was duly perfected nd discovered by Peter Cook and Becky Northey in South East Queensway, Australia.
Through comprehending how a tree abounds, relentless persistence, love of nature and tree finesse, these ingenious horticulturalists were able to perceive and influence the shape of these hardy trees. Though it is quite an ambitious and arduous hobby, its fruits reaped are more ambrosial than the rest. This hobby requires stability from its participants. Every day, a constant schedule is to be kept between watering, pleaching, bonsai, espalier and topiary. Thus, Pooktre Art is often befittingly compared to raising an animal such as a dog, or a cat.
A doubt many would have regarding this art, is on how the ‘ bending’ is done. Well, some species of trees exhibit a botanical phenomenon known as inosculation. Such trees are referred to as inosculate trees. Thus, horticulturists apply this theory into their practical work and use it to make many wonderful tree artefacts such as tree chairs, desk (with a straight wooden board), bridges, benches, mirrors or even perches. Pooktre Art is vastly recommended by the conservation syndicates as Pooktre is the enabling of manmade rudimentary creations such as chairs and desks made possible without pollution or exhaustion of any material.
In fact, this art can be considered as a new breakthrough in scientific inventions as it is eco-friendly, very practical in its use, can be made into a wide spectrum of objects( from a chair to a bridge) and helps keep the pollution level of the world as low as possible. Another interesting certainty about Pooktre Art is the price it fetches once sold. In the modern world today, nature’s works are sold at a soaring price. A simple packet of banyan seed, costing a dollar at the most, once cultured into a Pooktre art piece can draw millions back, profiting a thousand fold. This is the interesting paradox about Pooktre art.
It is not just a plant, it is also an artefact that can be passed onto various generations, thus making a mark in the world. Though lacking in strength, the Pooktre society is one of the richest and affluent societies in the world, beside football and basketball clubs. This shows the influence of such an art. In this dying world, such beacons of strength, beauty and hope must be planted alongside the roads of each community to overcome deforestation/ global warming. Pooktre arts are also a tourist hotspot. One such an area would be Erlandson’s Tree Circus in Scott’s Valley, California.
When Erlandson, one of the masters in Pooktre art, started the place with a mere $300 in his bank. After selling it eventually, it bought him $12000. However, a point must be taken that this art should be practiced with love for the nature rather than lust for the money. Only with patience and dedication, can this art be mastered. Thus, in conclusion, exotic hobbies are often referred to as unusual hobbies, mainly because its eccentricity or awkwardness. However, many around the world enjoy engaging in this leisure activities. To many, the main concern would be its founding and the nativity of it.
Nevertheless, to me, any form of activity that eases away the apprehension and stress of that day, would be a boon to me. These activities would draw variant criticism and evaluation from different people. From example, to an introvert, outdoor hobbies such as bungee jumping or football would not be as enticing as it would be to an extrovert. Similarly, hobbies such as reading or engaging in computer games would not be appealing to the extrovert at all. Therefore, I strongly encourage you to find that part in you and unravel yourself in your very own hobby. Keep it with you and you might just be the next Erlandson.
