In Boryeong, a coastal town in South Korea, there are kilometres upon kilometres of a special "elite" type of mud.

It almost looks like any other mud - only more greyish-green and gooey. But get past the "yucks" and you'll discover the minerals in the Daecheon Beach mud actually make it a humongous Godsent health mud pack for the taking.

And the Koreans know how to capitalise on a good thing. Every summer, they celebrate the mud - with feisty mud-slinging and wallowing.

The Boryeong Mud Festival ranks among the most popular of the numerous festivals the Koreans have and has been voted one of the best festivals internationally.

With bikini-clad PRs, celebrity musicians, acrobats and clowns, thousands of tourists and townsfolk indulge in "dirty" goings-on for several days. The fest is loony, wholesome fun for the entire family. » Full story

Photos: Reuters, AFP, Korea Tourism