One cool aspect of traveling that I've always enjoyed is learning more about the animals that are found in the countries I visit. Several months ago I wrote a post about exotic pets from South America. In it, I talked about the captivating capybara, the ornate horned Pac-Man frog and the creepy looking nightwalker-kinkajou. All three of these animals I had come across  before during my travels, and I was surprised to find out that people also kept them as pets.

Well, I recently shared the link to that post on my Facebook page, and this led to an interesting discussion on some of the other unique and or bizarre animals many of you have come across during your own travels. (As it turns out, a lot of you found Hawaii animals to be rather bizarre, which is quite the opposite for me, but no worries, I'll still be including them in the following discussion.)

Here are just some of the most bizarre creatures you've seen in your travels, and my personal commentary on each of them...

For most of us, the image of sailing slowly down the Nile River while lying lazily on a Felucca is something out of the movies. Mystery novelist, children's story book writer and contributing blogger Papa Campbell takes the time to share with us Chapter One of a short but vivid "Drifter's Tale" straight from the pages of his travel journal.

"This evening an ancient breeze smoothes across my face, as I witness the passing of a lonely felucca lazily floating by down the Nile. Its sail bows in humility at the brilliant beauty of the setting Egyptian sun." 

"As the ship passes silhouettes of date palms on the shore, the tall white curvature of its sail mirrors a reflection in the slow moving waters of the Nile, as if two ships were affectionately sailing down the river as one."