Scary Museums of the WorldBy Shanda Stefanson [Happy Holidays]
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How can you be scared witless and learn a little history at the same time? Shanda Stefanson gives you the lowdown of some of the world’s scariest museums.  With the Halloween season in full swing, people are always on the lookout for ways to be scared. Some people enjoy horror movies, haunted houses or other traditional forms of scaring themselves and their friends, but if you’re looking for something a little more cultured and want to learn a little something while you wet your pants from fear, check out some of these museums from around the word that will be sure to give you goose bumps.Seodaemun Prison History Museum, Seoul, Korea Located in Seodaemun Independence Park, this prison-turned-museum is a must-see on a visit to Seoul. It was built around 1910 and was used by the occupying Japanese to imprison and torture Korean nationals. Some of the original buildings are open to the public, so you can see the tiny cells where dozens of men were held, the “corpse removal exit” where the bodies of prisoners were smuggled out and the execution building. Perhaps the most gruesome part of the museum is the “Place of Experience” where you can see life-like animatronic mannequins undergoing some of the common tortures used by the Japanese. Entering the building you will be greeted by a soundtrack of screams and moans and then follow the arrows into the basement where you will see tortures like having sticks of bamboo shoved under fingernails or being hung upside down and having hot water laced with chilli peppers poured into the nostrils. You can then go upstairs and take part in some interactive displays where you can sit in the chair of a person being sentenced to death, then stand in the spot they would be hanged from. If you’re the first one in your group to do it, you’ll get quite a surprise when the floorboards jolt and you think they’re falling from under you. Well worth a visit, this museum will give a taste of Korean history and a little gore to go with it. Check out their website at www.sscmc.or.kr/culture2. The Ghost Centre, Stokkseyri, Iceland This museum in Iceland features exhibits about all of Iceland’s most famous ghosts. Guests are provided with a CD player on entrance that will guide them through the exhibits and tell the gruesome tales associated with each. You will go through the “Ghost Maze” where you can experience all the stories in the environment they took place in. The tour takes about 40 minutes and will give you a variety of horror stories to send a chill up your spine. From ancient ghosts dating back to the days of the Sagas to stable ghosts, infant ghosts, naked ghosts, sea ghosts, ghosts disguised as animals and tightwad ghosts in white robes, this museum will have something for everyone. The culture and history of Iceland is rich with folklore and myth, and this museum celebrates that heritage with tales from the darker side of its history. They also arrange tours where you can go on a search for elves and trolls and, if you’re lucky, see some Northern Lights, or get an insight into the daily life of Iceland centuries ago. They also offer overnight stays for those who have the guts. Their website can be found at www.draugasetrid.is. |
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