Bamboo-themed holidays a fun way to change up your vacations

Locals assembling the bamboo train in Battambang, ready for tourists to board. — ISDERION/Wikimedia Commons

A type of grass often mistakenly identified as a tree, bamboo can be found in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. You might even have this in your backyard as South-East Asia is one of the regions where the tubular plant has thrived for millions of years.

Recognised as the fastest-growing land plant in the world (giant sea kelp grows faster), with some of the roughly 1,000 species able to grow over 1m in a day, bamboo is a highly versatile material. It can be used for furniture, kitchenware and even clothing, among others.