Nazca Lines – Peru

The Nazca Lines are a collection of about 300 designs in the shapes of living creatures, plants and geometric figures that are scratched on the surface of Peru’s arid coastal plan.  They are located about 400 kilometers south of Lima between the towns of Nazca and Palpa. The Geoglyphs are created between 300 B. C….

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Temple of Hephaestus – Greece

The Temple of Hephaestus may be the best preserved ancient temple in Greece. It is located about 500 meters northwest of the Acropolis in Athens and was dedicated to Hephaestus, the ancient god of fire and Athena, the goddess of pottery and crafts. It is believed to have been built around 450 B. C.  …

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Papapapaitia Falls – Samoa

Papapapaitai Falls is located in the heart of Upola Island in Samoa. It is easily seen but it is not easy to access. The falls are a short distance from the Cross-Island Road that connects the country’s capital city of Apia with the southern part of the island. There is a lookout location near the…

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Butchart Gardens – Canada

Butchart Gardens covers an area of 55 acres and is located near Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada. The gardens are a group of floral display gardens that include a Sunken Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Italian Garden and a Mediterranean Garden. The gardens have been designated a National Historic Site of Canada and they celebrated…

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Doge’s Palace – Italy

The Doge’s Palace is located in Venice, Italy and it was not only the center of government during the Venetian Republic but it was also the residence of the Doge. The Doge was an elected lord and Chief of State during the medieval and renaissance periods. The unique architectural design makes it one of Europe’s…

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The Rocks – Australia

The Rocks is the location where European settles first landed in Sydney, Australia. Originally, this area was a rough place to live as it was occupied by a settlement of convicts, soldiers, sailors and street gangs. Today it is a popular area with upscale restaurants, trendy bars and art galleries. The Rocks is Sydney’s oldest…

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Museum of Cham Sculpture

The Museum of Cham Sculpture is located in Da Nang, Vietnam and is the only museum in the world completely dedicated to the Champa era. The museum was founded in 1915 and displays almost 300 works of art ranging from the 7th to the 15th centuries. This post is a follow-up to my post on…

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Cham archeological site at Mỹ Sơn – Vietnam

The Cham archeological site at Mỹ Sơn is a Hindu religious site that is located near Hoi An and close to Da Nang, Vietnam. The Mỹ Sơn complex dates from the 4th to the 13th centuries and was the central worship complex of the Champa people. There are around 50 remaining Cham sites dotted over…

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French Quarter – Louisiana

The French Quarter is the historic center of New Orleans. It is famous for lively nightlife, colorful building, jazz clubs, great restaurants and rowdy bars. The distinctive architecture is the first thing that is obvious when walking into the French Quarter. Many of the buildings are brightly colored and the balconies have ornate ironwork with…

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Guard Changing at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial – Taiwan

The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is guarded by two soldiers that stand motionless on each side of the Chiang Kai-shek Statue. The guard changing at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial takes place every hour starting at 9:00 A.M. until 5:00 PM. The basics of the ceremony is no different than other changing of the guard ceremonies. The…

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Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall – Taiwan

The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall was built in 1980 to honor the former President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and is located next to Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan. The octagon shaped roof represents the Chinese cultural symbolism of the number eight which is traditionally associated with fortune and wealth. The building is 76…

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Golden Triangle – Thailand, Myanmar and Laos

The Golden Triangle is the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet at the convergence of the Ruak and Mekong Rivers. Chiang Rai, Thailand is the nearest major city to the three-way border although there are numerous small town along the river in all three countries. The area is rugged landscape with…

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