In some ways, it's what we all work for. That much-anticipated week off during which we can finally leave everything behind and enjoy meeting a new culture, learning about a new country, or simply resting our backs in the sand. But for every good vacation-time memory, there is an odd, unsatisfying, and awkward one.

This list is about those vacation moments that just don't go as well as expected. Fortunately, a timely photographer was there to capture it and share it with the entire world. If you miss traveling, these vacation photos gone-wrong will probably cure your holiday nostalgia. And if not, they will at least make you laugh!

Suspended Chords

There's nothing like doing something unique to stand out from the rest in today's saturated music market. And these experienced travelers know exactly how to make a crowd's blood pump. They like to play live in the most dangerous and unsuitable places imaginable, such as a couple of 4,500-feet-high wires!

We know it looks crazy. But don't worry, because these guys are pros. They're a French music troupe known as Houle Douce, and they've played live all over the world. For this particular death-defying performance, they chose the cliffs of China's Tianmenshan National Forest Park.

Dating Abroad

Traveling abroad is all about having a whole new bunch of experiences. But sometimes, being open to new things can lead you down a dangerous path. This woman visited an exotic country and was happy about hanging out with some of the locals. But soon enough, she realized they were more welcoming than she ever wished for...

She just wanted a nice picture for social media, but they had some "monkey business" in mind. Well, at least one of them did! While some people are still skeptical about Charles Darwin's evolution theory, this may be the definite snap to prove them wrong!

Sorry, I'm a Slow Eater!

Sunburns are a vacation classic, but some sunburns are funnier than others! For instance, this lady fell asleep while eating a bowl of cereal and learned the hard way never to make the same mistake again. You don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to find out she's a slow eater with such clear evidence.

But whether you eat excruciatingly slowly (taking a nap in between bites) or frantically fast, sunburns are something you definitely should avoid. While some sunburn cases may look funny, sunburns are painful and dangerous. They accelerate skin aging, increase cancer risk, and aggravate lifetime melanoma risk by up to 80%.

Muddy Waters

There's an old Chinese proverb that goes: "muddy waters make it easy to catch fish." And guess who just took the bait? These three traveling companions don't mind the muddy waters at all, and they're all about covering themselves head-to-toe with some of the blackest mud we've ever seen.

While we're not sure why they're doing this, we guess they believe the mud will improve their skin condition. Or maybe that they just love to have some silly fun while on vacation? Either way, we have one final question: how on Earth did they manage to keep those hats so clean?

Getting the Full Picture

Some of the best things in life are not palpable. A beautiful sunset or a wonderful view from the mountains make for a very pleasing experience that sadly doesn't last forever. Unless... You can take a panoramic photo so you can remember it perfectly forever and ever!

But panoramic photos can be hard to get, especially if you're on top of some rocky ground. This lady experienced firsthand the pain of trying to take a panoramic photo... and failing. She ended up tripping mid-process, and the result was this glitch-in-the-Matrix type of mess. We guess sometimes it's better just to lay back and enjoy the moment.

Me, You & The Hippo

Popping the big question makes for a unique moment, and there's nothing like sharing it with the ones you love. But for the 2017 sweethearts Nick Kelble and Hayley Roll, such meant including Fiona the hippo in the process... Nick and Hayley are big fans of going to the zoo, and they were following the life of this adorable baby hippo ever since she was born.

Now, it was time to pay Fiona back by including her in one of the most special moments of their lives. Fiona looks pretty happy about it, and it seems like Nick and Hayley have her full blessing.

Creepy Photobomb

Photobombs can make for some hilarious memories. It's a funny way to meet someone at a party, for instance. But not all photobombs are welcome. Some are simply creepy! These three poor girls were having some fun at the sea when they were disturbed by a very self-imposing stingray.

The older ladies on the right are loving the moment, but have you looked at the faces of the "stingrayed" women? They look terrified! And they have a point: while stingray attacks are extremely rare, they produce a venom that can be fatal to humans.

Not a Beach Person

Family vacations can get tricky once the kids start getting older. Teenagers are particularly complicated. While almost every 10-year-old in the world loves the beach, most 15-year-olds are more worried about other things, like chasing after boys and girls and expressing their personality to the fullest.

Teenagehood is also the time when you discover whether you're a beach person or not. And here's a pro tip: if you're not okay about letting go of your Gothic day-to-day attire for a family vacation beach photo, there's a big chance you're not a beach person. It's a stylish way to avoid sunburns, though.

Bulls & Bears

We know what you're thinking: "oh, another Wall Street Bull gag photo, how original..." But take a closer look... After all, this raging bull couldn't be further away from Wall Street! It's actually located in The Bund, a popular waterfront area in Shanghai that's perfect for tourists.

It does look similar to the Wall Street Bull because it was designed by the same artist, the Italian Arturo Di Modica. But the Bund Bull is, in fact, a Chinese-commissioned work of art that weighs a whopping 5,000 pounds and that was installed in 2010. And, as you can see, it's also a favorite amongst tourists who love a good practical joke.

Almost There

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of Italy's most popular tourist attractions, and it's famous for its 3.97 degrees tilt. But over the years, the ever-present crowd of photo-thirsty tourists gathering outside of the monument has become almost as iconic as the historical building itself.

People will most commonly try to create a visual effect of leaning against the tower, but some tourists like to step their game up a notch. Why lean against the leaning monument when you can pretend it's ice cream and lick it? It's a funny and original idea... Too bad they failed to do it. Jeremy, you were supposed to lick the tower, not the tree!

Frozen Hair? Where Else But Alaska?

The Chena Hot Springs in Alaska make for an extreme vacation destination. Why? Because you get to experience a -20º F temperature while also enjoying a nice hot spring bath. Confusingly enough, you get to wear a bathing suit in Alaska, which sounds just crazy!

This picture was shared on Reddit by this woman's husband, and it shows what happens to someone's hair when the extremely low Alaskan temperatures hit. It looks like something coming straight out of a Halloween costume, but it's real. Reportedly, you can also catch the aurora borealis at Chena Hot Springs, so we cannot wait to visit it!

Cruelly Pranking Mom

Visited by close to 6 million people each year, the Grand Canyon makes for one of the U.S.'s top tourist destinations. But the wild cliffs of North Carolina/Tennessee can be dangerous, with a reported average of 12 deaths per year at the site... So, can you imagine how you would feel if your daughter sent you this picture?

This girl decided to prank her mom with a well-staged Grand Canyon photo. She's actually standing on a ledge, so she's perfectly safe. But her prank pic looks so convincing that the story even made it to some popular American news websites. Poor mom!

No, Stingrays Are Not Cute

It's the second stingray-inspired pic on this list, and that has got to mean something. These quirky and somewhat odd sea animals love to mess with people, especially young women. This poor girl was just trying to relax on the ocean when yet another self-imposing stingray assaulted her.

To be fair, we're spotting some human intervention in this wildlife photo... So, let's not blame stingrays already! And just so you don't feel terrible for this woman, keep in mind this photo was taken in a well-known Cayman Islands tourist location known as the Stingray City... So yeah, she's allowed to be scared... But she shouldn't be very surprised.

"Yeah, I'm Really Busy Right Now..."

The rhesus macaque is very common in South, Central, and Southeast Asia and makes for one of the cutest monkeys around. They're said to have the widest geographical range of all non-human primates, and they often like to live close to human settlements.

But if there's one thing the rhesus macaque doesn't like, that's taking photos. This little furry cutie is determined not to pose for this selfie, no matter how hard the girl beside him tries to. Still, she was able to capture him nicely while he was pretending to be busy checking the dirt under his fingernails. Typical monkey business!

Not Your Ordinary Vacation Love Story

People travel for all sorts of reasons: they want to know themselves, they want to engage in different cultures and experiences, and they want to meet new people. And sometimes, they also want to fall in love—the more exotic the destination, the more exotic the lover.

And is there anything more exotic than this interspecies vacation love story? She looks extremely confident next to her new babe, but she's too much for him to handle. This romantic partnership is literally taking his breath away, and he needs to move on as soon as possible. But don't worry, lady: there's plenty of fish in the sea.

When You Forget Your Bus Ticket

Vacationing with your group of friends is super fun! But you know how your friends are: they're always distracted, and they always forget something. This girl forgot to pack her bus ticket and was about to ruin her friends' entire vacation. But then, she had an idea!

Being the group's petite lady, she realized she could fit in the luggage section without anyone noticing. The trick worked just fine, but she didn't look very happy by the time the journey was over. "Karen, you never told me the bus trip was going to take 8 hours!"

Scary, Scared, or Hungry?

Let's play a game: let's look closely at this picture and try to figure out what's going through this lady's mind. Is she scary and screaming at the poor little alligator? Is she scared and screaming because of the little alligator? Or, the worse option of all, is she so hungry that she's about to eat the little alligator?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and we do think the expression applies perfectly to this puzzling image. Nevermind this lady's hard-to-crack facial expression. The real enigma is: where did the little alligator get all that jewelry from?

Not Lovin' Their Love Story

Out of all types of vacations, honeymoons make for the most nauseatingly romantic. Newly-wed couples are so passionate about one another they don't even realize when they're making someone else utterly miserable with all of their shenanigans!

This young couple is a perfect example of honeymoon-induced selflessness. They're so into each other they decided that riding their horses all the way into the ocean was going to be cool. But they never gave it a second to think about the poor guy leading the horses in and out of the water. That man looks like he's a 5-year-old who just saw his parents kissing intensely.

Yes, Dolphins Are Evil

A child's intuition never lies. And this girl knows something her parents don't: that dolphins are utterly evil. "What?" you ask, "How can such a cute creature be evil? He looks like he's smiling for the picture with his adorable dolphin snot!" Well, allow us to rock your world forever...

According to NY Post, the "ever-cute" dolphin can be a quite vicious animal. They are known for killing their own babies and for trying to assault human swimmers! As if that wasn't enough, they have also been captured using young sharks as volleyballs! They're mean, and they love to fool us into thinking otherwise... But that clever little girl knows all about them.

"Look, Mom, Foreign Trash!"

This man is a bonafide tourist, and he's planned his European trip to the minute. Without time to waste, he's making sure his first Euro vacation starts with a banging selfie. But he seems to be unaware that he's standing right next to a huge pile of trash.

It would be funny if he were capturing some "classy European trash" to show off to his friends as if it was a picture of a Rembrandt painting. Sadly, the truth is not as fascinating. He seems to be simply unaware of how quirky he looks right now.

Unzipping the Fear

If your goal is to traumatize your children forever, family vacations make for the perfect opportunity. Here's an effective method for quick childhood trauma: grab your youngest son and force him to go down the zipline. The more he cries, the more traumatized he will get! Don't forget to celebrate the occasion with a pic and post it online.

Naturally, we're just kidding! This dad is simply trying to show his kids that they can surpass their fears to do whatever they want. And he's making sure that they're overcoming their fears in the safest possible way, so props to him.

Too Close...

We're all about animal rights, and we love to pet them, to care for them, or to look at them. But no matter how much of an animal lover you think you are, some moments can make you reconsider your animal-loving beliefs.

This kid is a perfect example: he used to say he loved donkeys. But then, a wild donkey appeared out of nowhere and almost made him wet his pants. That's when he realized that some animals, such as loudmouth donkeys, are best loved from afar... A vacation lesson for life!

Polar Expedition

Equipped with nothing but picks and a puzzling love for polar bears, this family of five celebrated an icy vacation with a picture that's been making its way all across the Internet. Why? Because it looks exactly like the type of snapshot that precedes a heinous violent crime.

Let's say there is only a 50% chance that this creepy polar bear is going to murder the entire family by the time they reach the deepest snow cave. Even if they do survive, do you think that the experience was worth it? Don't worry, it's a perfectly innocent picture in the end; but wouldn't it make for a great start to a horror movie?

1, 2, 3... Jump!

Family vacation photos can be extremely stressful. But in the heyday of social media, they've become an indispensable part of traveling. Nowadays, they're just as essential as luggage, a booked hotel room, and a tropical mosquito shot.

But don't you think that taking the perfect family vacation pic can be a little too much pressure for the little ones to handle? This mid-jump beach photo was supposed to be perfect but ended up in disaster! Yet, we guess this funny fail made for an even sweeter family memory. No family is perfect, and that's what makes each family special.

Don't Turn Your Back on the Ocean

But what do we mean by un-perfect family pictures? Well, what about this one? This family thought the ocean was pretty quiet that day and decided to turn their back to the ever-unpredictable sea. A wave violently struck them, but the result was a family snap even more perfect than the one they'd imagined.

This funny photo was less-than-ideal but ended up making for the ideal family vacation memory! They're having so much fun together; it's heartwarming. This disastrous photo beats a perfectly put together family vacation snap every single time if you ask us.

Herd Mentality

Let's go back to the Leaning Tower of Pisa to check on this extremely touristy crowd. As you've probably realized by now, the Italian locals must be tired of seeing this every single day! But can you really visit this iconic monument and pass on the opportunity of taking the equally-iconic "leaning against the tower" or "holding the tower's weight" picture?

We know grandpa isn't going to snub the chance, and he's doing his best to look believable. In the grass, two lady friends combine efforts to achieve an ambitious Leaning Tower combo pic. Just another day at the Piazza del Duomo...

When a Sunburn is the Least of Your Concerns

Meet Chad. He's the type of guy who loves to sleep on the beach while on vacation. But last time, he got sunburned so bad his entire week was ruined. But this time, Chad had the perfect plan to sleep on the beach without getting all sore and skinned: he'd bury his entire body in the sand.

Chad thought it was a smart play. But he forgot about the seagulls. And when he woke up, he had a little surprise waiting for him on his forehead. Before today, he never realized sunburns are only the second most-dangerous beach hazard.

The Weakest Link: Rafting Edition

When it comes to extreme outdoor sports, such as rafting, there are three types of people. The ones who just love it, the ones who are okay about doing it once or twice in their lives, and the ones who just know rafting is not for them.

If you've ever given in to peer pressure to do something extreme like bungee jumping, paragliding, or rafting, you know exactly how that girl feels like. Her friend is desperately trying to keep her on board, but in the back of her mind, she knew from the very beginning this was going to happen...

Grandma's Not Impressed

Rides are supposed to be fun, but some people just don't like it. This grandma was probably convinced by one of her grandsons to expand her horizons and have an amusing time. But she quickly found out that horizon expansion wasn't as enjoyable as most people said it was...

Like an unimpressed customer tricked by false advertising, she's surely not getting her money's worth. Still, she looks super cool with her sunglasses and blue hoody. She must be a professional card player because she has one of the best poker faces we've ever seen!

I Talk... And I Bite!

Meeting the exotic local fauna is a big part of the excitement of traveling. But keep in mind that real-life animals will seldom be as cute as they look in the movies. This bird-loving tourist discovered that the hard way: by being bitten by a frantic parrot.

This happened in Roatán, a Caribbean island 40 miles off the northern coast of Honduras, a perfect tourist destination with lots of summery, blue-watery beaches. So don't worry: there's plenty for this lady to enjoy now that she realized her love for exotic birds wasn't reciprocated.

It's a Dog Eat Dog World Out There

If you visit the Colca Canyon in southern Peru, you will probably stumble upon these two animals: the goat and the hawk. The region is known for its big birds, including a lot of tamed hawks and the magnificent Andean condor, a protected mountain bird.

Going abroad to see some stunning natural landscapes and wildlife is great. But don't fool yourself, just like this woman did: there are no rules in the natural world, where the strongest is always the winner. And no matter how desperately you try to get in between, nature will always run its course.

Like a Boss

Waterslides don't always make for a scary attraction, but some are genuinely fast and thrilling. Just look at the man in the picture: he seems to be somewhat impressed, even though he looks relatively calm. Compared to the woman sitting in front of him, you can actually say he's taking it well.

But then, you notice the kid. Showing the grown-ups how it's done, he's putting his bossiest-looking face to get himself an unforgettable water sliding picture. This is more than a nice vacation memory: it's the photo that will represent him throughout generations.

Cool Girls Don't Look at Explosions

People on vacation are not the same. In a way, they change. They become more fun and laidback, and they don't let anything ruin their good spirit. Take this lady, for instance: if she were back home and saw a massive explosion, she would probably call the firefighters and worry a lot about the outcome.

But an explosion while on vacation? That makes for the perfect photo op. Since she was already wearing a steamy swimsuit, all it took was to strike a cool pose. The result is this memorable vacation picture that looks like an action movie screenshot.

Parenthood... With a Twist

Yes, we know we've just said vacation time causes people to change. But not always. Some of your best (and worst) personality traits sometimes stay the same while you're on vacation, much to the desperation of your traveling companions.

This poor dad thought his son would forget all about his twisting habit because he was on the beach. But could he have been any more wrong? The minute this dad and son duo got together for a pic, little Charlie immediately went back to his favorite hobby: messing with daddy's ni**les.

Not Like the Movies

We see what she was trying to do: she wanted to have a Baywatch-type of pic to upload on social media, and she knew there's nothing cooler than emerging from the water and shaking it out of your hair. But real-life, ladies and gentlemen, is just not like the movies.

It turns out all those steamy water scenes from the movies are nothing but a staged lie. This girl's attempt to look cool resulted in a proper reality check. It must've taken her a few seconds just to get the hair out of her face.

Creepy Hotel Room

Sharing a tiny hotel room with someone is the ultimate privacy killer. But more often than not, there's nothing more pleasant than waking up next to your significant other and ask for some delicious room service breakfast. And then, there's nothing better than watching your beloved partner go through his/her morning routine, right?

Well, not so fast! Breakfast together in bed is the good kind of intimacy, but cringingly watching your significant other while he/she is in the toilet? That's borderline creepy! Still, the crazy guys who designed this hotel room feel like a bed-to-toilet view is a must... We're not sure why, but hey, at least it's funny!

"Babe, I Told You We Should've Paid For the Insurance!"

One of the biggest stresses of traveling is renting a car. The process itself can be pretty complicated, especially if you're visiting a foreign country. But the real hassle is that little voice inside of your head that keeps telling you: "this is a rental; make sure you don't break it."

Sadly, this poor family is experiencing what it feels like to ruin your rental car utterly, and we hope they've selected the priciest insurance option. They probably left the car on the beach, went for a walk in the city, and came back to find out that the tide was high. Ouch!

Can You Spot the Glass Cup?

We cannot stress it enough: all those cool exotic animals you see on the TV will probably not be as nice as you think. Even the pink flamingo, which looks like such a peaceful and magnificent bird, can sometimes give you a hard time.

Still, these one-of-a-kind birds are so cool that a visit will probably be worth it. The name 'flamingo' comes from the Spanish/Portuguese word 'Flamengo,' which means "flame-colored." And when they're not stressfully eating out of your hand, these fiery birds love to chew on brine shrimp and blue-green algae.

Airplane Horror

Traveling abroad has its pros and cons, but it's fair to say that the airplane trip will never be the best part... Don't get us wrong: airplanes make for one of the world's safest transportation methods, and they're just incredibly fast and practical. Still, airplane travels can be a real nightmare.

For one, you can be so unlucky that you happen to be sitting behind the Big Foot. And when that happens, you will have a hard time selecting your airplane meal without touching his leafy hair. Watching a movie, as you can clearly see, is also not an option.

Mid-Air Snap

Like most tourists visiting Puerto Rico, this woman decided to get to know the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a great monument built in San Juan during the 16th century. But, surprise, surprise, her San Juan classic vacation pic turned out to have something unique about it.

Can you see it? That's a green iguana, a very common type of lizard in Puerto Rico. The poor animal was clearly trying to avoid the photo but was snapped at the right moment. We're not sure if he enjoys being exposed like that, but he surely looks super cool.