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Unusual but true: Kumamon won't be 'torch bear' for Olympics
2019-06-14 

In unusual but true stories this week, we have Kumamon getting rejected in his bid to be an Olympic torch runner; Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland opening to the public; Grandparents traveling from Britain to the Great Wall of China on their bikes; an art student teaching her pony how to paint; and a tiny luxury cabin that brings you closer to nature with its sliding glass walls.

These odd and interesting anecdotes from around the world are here in our review.

No 'torch bear' for Olympics: Kumamon rejected

Kumamon, the popular black bear mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture, makes a surprise appearance during a ceremony of Age Day in Tokyo on Jan 6, 2017. [Photo/IC]

The Kumamoto government proposed that its adorable bear mascot Kumamon be the torchbearer, but it was rejected by the Tokyo Olympic Committee on the grounds of its "commercial image" and being "nonhuman".

Recently, the Tokyo Olympic Committee announced the route summary and schedule of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic torch relay. It will pass through Kumamoto Prefecture, which was hit hard by the earthquake.

Kumamon surprises and delights children in Mashiki, Kumamoto Prefecture, on May 5, 2016. [Photo/IC]

Kumamon is a mascot created by the government of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It was created in 2010 for a campaign to draw tourists to the region. Kumamon subsequently became popular across the nation, and in 2011, was voted at the top in a nationwide survey of mascots. Now Kumamon enjoys tremendous popularity throughout the world.

Disneyland opens largest single-themed land – Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

A view of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland on opening day. [Photo/IC]

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, located in Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, is Disney's largest single-themed land expansion ever. It is set in the Black Spire Outpost, a town that thrived until the trade routes bypassed its home planet Batuu.

An inside view of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland. [Photo/IC]

The area includes two major rides as well as restaurants, food stands, a cantina and several shops. Visitors won't see Mickey Mouse and friends wandering Galaxy's Edge. Instead, smugglers, bounty hunters and storm troopers will be roaming the area.

A view of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland on opening day. [Photo/IC]

Grandparents bike from Britain to Great Wall of China

The grandparents are pictured on the Great Wall of China in Beijing. [Photo/VCG]

An inspirational couple in their 60s has traveled 12,000 miles across 16 countries from Britain to the Great Wall of China, riding their bikes the entire way.

Grandparents Peter and Chris Lloyd embarked on the epic 18-month journey after deciding to "do something a bit different" in retirement.

They traversed cities, deserts, mountains and everything in between as they crossed Europe, the Middle East and the Far East.

The grandparents are pictured in front of the container ship that carried the couple back home. [Photo/VCG]

Pony Picasso: Art student teaches horse to paint

Teddy the pony, with his paintings. [Photo/VCG]

Elodie Poncin, 18, is studying a foundation diploma in arts and design at Oxford Brookes University, and wants her last exhibition to stand out from the crowd: a painting pony, Teddy.

The horse lover spent eight hours training Teddy to first hold a sponge, then a brush, and then paint pictures on a canvas. Teddy the pony usually takes around two hours to create one of his masterpieces.

Elodie had to stop horseback riding after a skiing accident in 2017. She said she wanted to combine her two great passions - art and horses - "for the fun of it, and see what happens".

Oxford Brookes University student Elodie Poncin tries to teach her 12-year-old pony Teddy to paint. [Photo/VCG]

Tiny cabin with sliding glass walls puts you closer to nature

The pods are rugged enough to withstand most climates and the interior of the pods is well-insulated. [Photo/IC]

The cabins, called LumiPods, are just 183 square feet and contain a simple bedroom and bathroom. It's a little easier to get closer to nature thanks to these prefab, round cabins with sliding glass walls that can be assembled anywhere in the world.

Created for stressed-out city dwellers, they have a charred wood cladding and glass facade that slides open to provide a seamless connection between the interior and outdoor spaces. It's a great option for those looking to turn a plot of land into a vacation home.

The LumiPod offers unobstructed views from almost any position inside. [Photo/IC]

LumiPods must be connected to electricity, water and wastewater networks. But the company is currently exploring new technology in order to offer a totally off-grid version as soon as 2020.

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