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ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Khar Bukh Bargas, Kultigen Monument, and Karakhorum, Mongolia
Terracotta Warriors, Xi’an, China
Emperor Jingdi’s Tomb, Xi’an China
Temples of Angkor, Cambodia
Temples of Bagan, Myanmar
Temples of Mrauk U, Myanmar
Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara, Egypt
Aswan and Abu Simbel, Egypt
The Valley of the Kings Tombs, Luxor and Karnak, Egypt
Jerash, Jordan
Petra, Jordan
Masada & Beit Guvrin – Israel
Caesarea & Megiddo – Israel
Akko (Acre) – Israel
Standing Stones, Cromeleque dos Almendres , Portugal
Amphitheater of Arles, France
Pont Du Gard, Provence, France
Standing Stones of Carnac, France
ARCHITECTURE
Opera house – Sydney Australia
The Bund and Pudong, Shanghai, China
Church and Monastery of San Agustin, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
Coptic and Islamic Cairo, Egypt
Jerash, Jordan
Petra, Jordan
Manuelin Style Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon, Portugal
Pena and National Palaces, Sintra, Portugal
Manuelin style Convento de Cristo, Tomar, Portugal
Amphitheater of Arles, France
Pont Du Gard, Provance, France
Palace of the Popes, Avignon, France
Mont St Michel, France
Bayeux Cathedral, France
The Chateaus of the Loire Valley, France
Hotel Dieu, Beaune, France
The half timber buildings of Troyes, France
Rheims Cathedral, France
Paris opera house – Palais Garnier, France
Sacre Cour, Montmartre, Paris, France
Arc du Triumph, Paris, France
Notre Dame de Paris, France
Galleries Lafayette, France
Eiffel Tower, Paris
Palace of Versailles, France
ART
Nourlangie and Ubirr Aboriginal Art Sites, Kakadu National Park, Australia
Deer stones, Uushglin Uvur, Mongolia
Yunggang Grottoes, Datong, China
Giant Buddha of Leshan, China
Propaganda Poster Art Center, Shanghai, China
Stone Sculpture and Reliefs of Angkor, Cambodia
Stone Reliefs of Mrauk U, Myanmar
The Valley of the Kings Tombs, Luxor and Karnak, Egypt
Byzantine Mosaics of Madaba, Jordan
Azulejo Tiles, Lisbon, Portugal
Tympanum of the last Judgement, Abby Church of St. Foy, Conques, France
Prehistoric Cave Art of the Vezere and Lot Valleys, France
Bayeux Tapestry, France
Musee Robert Tatin, France
Tapestry of the Apocalypse, Angers, France
BARS, PUBS, and ROADHOUSES
BOATS and SHIPS
Sangker River trip, Battembang to Siem Reap, Cambodia
2000 Year old Galilean boat (Jesus Boat) – Israel
BRIDGES & TUNNELS
Harbor Bridge – Sydney, Australia
Pont Du Gard, Provence, France
Bridge of Avignon, France
CAMPING, HIKING, and TREKKING
Abel Tasman Coast Track – New Zealand
Daintree National Park, Australia
The Otway Ranges, Australia
Dana Nature preserve, Jordan
Parque Serra da Estrela, Portugal
Canoeing the Dordogne River, France
Hiking on the Crozon Peninsula, Brittany, France
CANYONS and GORGES
Mandu Mandu Gorge, Cape Range NP, Australia
Karijini National Park, Australia
Geike Gorge, Australia
Cathedral Gorge and Echidna Chasm,
Purnululu National Park, Australia
Emma Gorge, El Questro Wilderness, Australia
Katherine Gorge, Australia
Kings Canyon, Australia
Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Valleys, China
The Siq, Petra, Jordan
CAVES
Waitomo, New Zealand
Honeycomb Caves, Oparara Basin, New Zealand
Mimbi Caves, Australia
Naracoorte Caves, Australia
Yangshuo Caves, China
Bet Guvrin – Israel
Rosh Hanikra Grottoes – Israel
Prehistoric Cave Art of the Vezere and Lot Valleys, France
CEMETERIES, TOMBS, CRYPTS, and CATACOMBS
Terracotta Warriors, Necropolis of Qin Shi Huang, Xi’an, China
Emperor Jingdi’s Tomb, Xi’an, China
The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara, Egypt
Tombs of Petra, Jordan
Bet Guvrin – Israel
Capella dos Osos, Evora, Portugal
Montmartre cemetery, France
CITIES and TOWNS
Sydney, Australia
Darwin, Australia
Adelaide, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Hong Kong – Wan Chai & Victoria Peak
Macau
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Beijing, China
Datong, China
Pingyao, China
Xi’an, China
Chengdu, China
Nanjing, China
Huangshan City, China
Suzhou and Tongli, China
Shanghai, China
El Nido, Philippines
Port Barton, Philippines
Puerto Princessa, Philippines
Sabang, Philippines
Manila, Philippines
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Battembang, Cambodia
Bangkok, Thailand
Yangon, Myanmar
Cairo, Egypt
Aswan, Egypt
Abu Simbel, Egypt
Luxor, Egypt
Madaba, Jordan
Jerash, Jordan
Jerusalem, Israel
Tel Aviv and Haffa , Israel
Lisbon, Portugal
Evora, Portugal
Obidos, Portugal
Monsanto, Portugal
Coimbra, Portugal
Porto, Portugal
Santiago de Compostella, Spain
Castro Urdiales, Spain
Carcassone, France
Arles, France
Avignon, France
Isle sur la Sorgue, France
Conques, France
Sarlat la Caneda, France
Villages of the Dordogne and Lot Valleys – Domme, La Roque Gageac, Buynac, St. Circ Lapopie, France
Rocamadour, France
Mont St Michel, France
Bayeux , France
Morgat, France
Angers, France
Amboise, France
Beaune, France
Troyes, France
Rheims, France
Villages of Burgundy – Vezelay, Flavigny, Chateauneuf en Auxois, France
Paris, France
CITIES (TROGLODYTE)
Coober Pedy, Australia
Beit Guvrin – Israel
COASTAL WATERS, BEACHES, and REEFS
Light House at Nugget Point- New Zealand
Curio Bay – New Zealand
Gillespie Beach – New Zealand
Truman Beach – New Zealand
Abel Tasman Coast Track – New Zealand
Kaikoura – New Zealand
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Shark Bay, Ausytralia
Ningaloo Reef, Australia
The Great Ocean Road , Australia
Bacuit Archipelako (From Coron, Coron to El Nido. Palawan) , Philippines
El Nido, Palawan – Philippines
Port Barton, Palawan – Philippines
Sabang, Palawan – Philippines
Puerto Princessa, Palawan – Philippines
Dead Sea, Jordan
Rosh Hanikra- Israel
Caesarea – Israel
Beaches of Tel Aviv – Israel
Nazere, Portugal
DESERTS
Wadi Rum, Jordan
Maktesh Ramon & Dead Sea Coast- Israel
DIVING AND SNORKELING
Bora Bora
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Ningaloo Reef, Australia
Bacuit Archipelako (From Coron, Coron to El Nido. Palawan) , Philippines
Port Barton, Philippines
Puerto Princessa, Philippines
FISH (BIG) & WHALES
Minke Whales, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Whale Sharks and Humpback Whales, Ningaloo, Australia
FLORA & FAUNA
Sea Lion at Nugget Point – New Zealand
Otago Peninsula
Canadian, Northern Ontario Wildlife
Yellow Eyed Penguins at Curio Bay
Cape Foulwind Seal Colony
Ohau and Kaikoura Seals – New Zealand
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Daintree National Park, Australia
Yanchep Koalas, Australia
Shark Bay, Australia
Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range National Park, Australia
Flying Foxes, Katherine Gorge, Australia
Waterbirds and Salt Water Crocodiles, Yellow Water, Kakadu Nationa Park, Australia
Panda Breeding Center, Chengdu, China
The Elephant Project, Moldukiri, Cambodia
Flamingos and wild horses of thr Carmargue, France
FOOD and DRINK
Kiwi Cooking
Mexican Burger, Mt Molloy Cafe, Queensland, Australia
Horhog, traditional mutton stew, Mongolia
Street food, Muslim Quarter, Xi’an, China
Pat Thai, Som Tam, Pat Khi Mao and more, Bangkok Thailand
Ginha Liquor, Portugal
Francesinha, Portugal
Paella in Galicia, Spain
Roquefort Cheese, France
Wine tasting and cellar visit in Beaune, France
Champagne tasting and cellar visit in Rheims, France
Escargot, France
FORESTS and JUNGLES
Cochrane, Northern Ontario
Catlins River Track – Beech Forest
Oparara Basin, New Zealand
Daintree National Park, Australia
The Otway Ranges, Australia
The Bamboo Sea, China
GARDENS
Christchurch Botanical Gardens, Australia
Adelaide botanical Gardens, Australia
Jinshan and Zhongshan Park, Beijing, China
Classical Gardens of Suzhou and Tongli
Peoples park, Yangon, Myanmar
Floating Gardens of Inle Lake, Myanmar
Baha’i Gardens – Haifa – Israel
Pena Palace, Sintra, Portugal
Forest Bussaco, Portugal
Jardins de Cadiot, France
Gardens of Versailles, France
GLACIERS and FIORDS
Milford Sound
Fox Glacier, New Zealand
Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand
LAKES and RIVERS
Lake Kovsgol, Mongolia
Sankger River Trip, Battembang to Siem Reap, Cambodia
Inle Lake, Myanmar
Seine River, France
MARKETS and FAIRS
Papeete
Rock Market – Sydney, Australia
Mindil Beach Market, Darwin, Australia
Central Market, Adelaide, Australia
Hong Kong – Markets of Kowloon
Panjiayuan Market, Beijing, China
Muslim Quarter, Xi’an, China
Russian Market, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Chatuchak Market, Bangkok, Thailand
Bogyoke Aung San, Yangon, Myanmar
Nampan Market, Inle Lake, Myanmar
Ben Yehuda Market, Jerusalem, Israel
Feria da Ladras, Lisbon, Portugal
Isle sur la Sorgue, France
Market day at Sarlat la Caneda, France
MOUNTAINS
Milford Road
Mianshan, Shanxi, China
Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, China
Guilin, China
Huangshan – Yellow Mountain, China
MUSEUMS , EXHIBITIONS & COLLECTIONS
Steampunk HQ
World of Wearable Art and Classic Car Museum, New Zealand
Omaka Aviation Heritage Center, New Zealand
National Museum, Beijing, China
Massacre Museum, Nanjing
National Museum, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt
Israeli Museum in West Jerusalem, Israel
Musee de Arte Antigua, Musee de Azukejos and Musee dos Coches, Lisbon, Portugal
Oceanarium, Lisbon, Portugal
Museo Machado de Castro, Coimbra, Portugal
Treasury of the Abby Church of St. Foy, Conques, France
Musee Robert Tatin, France
The Louvre, Paris, France
Musee d’Orsay, Paris, France
L’Orangerie, Paris, France
Pompidour Center, Paris, France
Quay Branley, Paris, France
PALACES, CASTLES, MANORS, MANSIONS and FORTRESSES
Summer Palace, Beijing, China
Forbidden City, Beijing China
National Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
National Palace, Bangkok, Thailand
Karak Castle, Jordan
Ajloun Castle, Jordan
Pena and National Palaces, Sintra, Portugal
Walled town of Carcassone, France
Fortress of Les Baux, Provance, France
Museum of the Battle of Normandie, France
The Chateaus of the Loire Valley, France
Palace of Versailles, France
PERFORMANCES
Sanjie Liu, Yangshou, China
Phare (circus), Siem Reap, Cambodia
Fado, Lisbon, Portugal
Fado, Coimbra, Portugal
Moulin Rouge, Montmartre, Paris, France
PLANES, TRAINS, and AUTOMOBILES (and BUSES, and TUK TUKS)
Taieri Gorge Railway, New Zealand
The Bamboo Train, Battembang, Cambodia
PLAZAS AND SQUARES – PUBLIC PLACES
Tienanmen Square , Beijing, China
PRARIE, STEPPES, and GRASSLANDS
Orkhon Valley to Karakhorum, Mongolia
Ulan Tsutgalan to Tsetserleg, Mongolia
QUIRKY, COMICAL, and WEIRD
Steampunk HQ, Oamaru, New Zealand
Wycliffe Wells, UFO Capital of Australia
Coober Pedy (Troglodyte city), Australia
ROAD TRIPS
Milford Road, New Zealand
Stuart Highway, Australia
Great Ocean Road, Australia
ROCKS
Moeraki Boulders
Pancake Rocks Punakaiki
Nambung Pinnacles, Australia
Beehives, Purnululu National Park, Australia
Devil’s Marbles, Australia
ROCKS (BIG)
Uluru (Ayers Rock), Australia
Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), Australia
SAFARI
SWAMPS, MARSHES, WETLANDS, BOGS, and FENS
Cochrane, Northern Ontario
Yellow Waters, Kakadu National Park, Asutralia
TEMPLES, CHURCHES, MOSQUES, MONASTERIES and RELIGIOUS SITES
Hong Kong – Man Mo and Tin Hau Temples
Gandan Monastery, Ulanbattar, Mongolia
Erdene Zuu, Karakorum, Mongolia
Tuvkhon Monastery, Mongolia
Amarbayasgalant Monastery, Mongolia
Lamasery Yonghegong, Beijing, China
Hanging Monastery, Datong, China
Pingyao Old Town, Chna
Church and Monastery of San Agustin, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok, Thailand
Shewdagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar
Anada, Ananda Ok Kyaung, Dhamma Yan Gyi Phato, Hti Lo Min Lo, and Nan Paya Temples, Bagan, Myanmar
In Dein and Phaung Daw Oo Paya, around Inle Lake, Myanmar
Htuk Kant Thein, Shite Thaung, Ko Thaung, and Andaw, Mrauk U, Myanmar
Hanging Church, Cairo, Egypt
Bethany on the Jordan, Jordan
Churches of Nazareth and North Galilean Coast , Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Temple of Pan , Banias , Israel
Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon, Portugal
Convento de Cristo, Tomar, Portugal
Mosterio da Batalha , Portugal
Church of Alcobaca, Portugal
Cathedral Santiago de Compostella, Portugal
Abby Church of St. Foy, Conques, France
Mont St Michel, France
Bayeux Cathedral, France
Vezelay Abby, France
Abby de Fontenay, France
Rheims Cathedral, France
Notre Dame de Paris, France
THERMAL SPRINGS
Tsenkher Hot Springs, Mongolia
Franz Joseph Hot Springs, New Zealand
Hamner Springs, New Zealand
Mataranka Springs, Australia
Hammat Ma’in Hot Springs, Jordan
TRADITIONAL LIFE AND LIVELIHOODS
Traditional livelihoods, Battembang, Cambodia
Inle Lake, Myanmar
Mrauk U and the Chin Villages, Myanmar
VOLCANOS, and GEYSERS
Khorgo Volcano
Undara Lava Tubes, Australia
WALLS and FORTIFICATIONS
WATERFALLS
Purakaunui Falls
Barron Falls, Australia
Waterfall Circuit, Atherton Tablelands, Australia
Fortesque Falls, Karijini National Park, Australia
Emma Gorge and Falls, El Questro Wilderness, Australia
Triplet and Aire Falls, Australia
WHY THEMES
Budgeting and rough timing required some research on each country, their destinations of interest within, and how long it would take to get around to them. One dollar old used travel guides were all that was needed – after all the Great Wall hasn’t changed much in the last five years.
After raking through the guides of dozens of countries, themes began to appear in the long lists of sites and their reputed charms.
Is there a town in France without a chateau and a Musee de Beaux Ars? Or a town in Turkey without an ancient ruin and an archaeological museum? Or a town in Peru without an Inca citadel or a mountain to climb?
And although we are drawn to the uniqueness of each country, you start to ask yourself how many caves can be visited before speleological insanity sets in? How many winery tours can one stand, let alone one’s liver? How many ruins can you digest and assimilate from a country, a culture, or even in a personal lifetime?
We will see. But as we rolled through guide after guide we thought it would be fun to organize by theme as well as by time and place so we compiled a quick list from our reading, serious as well as tongue in cheek, and will cross reference, add, amend, and retire as things progress.
Scott and Marta Dent 