Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao

The Banaue Rice Terraces of the Philippines have been deemed the 8th wonder of the world. They were carved from the hillside by the tribes people of Ifugao about 2,000-3,000 years ago. The tribes people dug them out with their bare hands and crude implements. Doing so they created steps in the hills where they could plant their rice. The rice terraces are still used to this day.

The terraces are considered to be one of the greatest engineering feats of mankind. If each one were connected end to end, then they would reach halfway across the globe or be 10 times as long as the Great Wall of China. It was not until 1995 that the Banaue Rice Terraces were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The rice terraces are like stepping stones stretching towards the sky. Some of them reach almost 5,000 feet in altitude and cover about 4,000 square miles of land. They are now beginning to show signs of erosion, and some of the terraces need maintenance. Many of the Ifugaos’ newer generations are migrating to nearby cities in search of better opportunities work opportunities as a result.

Even though it is about eight or nine hours from Manila traveling by car, the Banaue rice terraces are known to be one of the most spectacular places to see in the Philippines. They have transformed the Cordillera mountains’ barren stone into ledges that are fit to grow rice.

Bora Bora in the Leeward Islands

Bora Bora is an island within the Leeward Islands of the French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean and is located about 140 miles northwest from Papeete. The island is completely surrounded by a barrier reef and a lagoon, which makes it a vacationing paradise for holiday travelers and tourists. At the island’s center, one can find remnants from a volcano that is now extinct and rises with two peaks, Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia, where the highest point is 2,385 feet high. The original name of Bora Bora was given from the Tahitian language, which is better translated as Pora Pora.

Bora Bora was first sighted in 1722, but then located again in 1769 and settled in 1777. Today, tourism is a big part of the island, where many resorts have been constructed on the small island that surrounds the lagoon of the Bora Bora. The first bungalows over the water were built about 30 years ago on stilts by the Hotel Bora Bora. Now the overwater bungalows have become a standard feature for most of the resorts on the island.

Most of the island’s tourist destinations are centered around aquatic activities, but there are still some attractions to see on land. Some of the aquatic activities include scuba diving and snorkeling around or in the lagoon. There are many species of stingrays and sharks that live in the water, and some of the diving operators actually offer tourists the chance to dive with the manta rays or feed the sharks.

Potala Palace at Lhasa

The Potala palace in Lhasa, Tibet is located on what is called the Red Hill and was built by King Songtsen Gampo during the seventh century. It was struck by lightning and devastated by war which led to its destruction. However, the fifth Dalai Lama, in 1645, rebuilt the palace again. Since then, it has become the political center of Tibet. The Potala Palace actually has two palaces in it, the Red and the White Palace. The red one signifies religion and the white one is a ministerial building. This place is known for its complex construction, huge buildings, peaceful atmosphere and numerous works of art.

Once you enter the palace from the east. It takes you to the main courtyard where the Dalai Lama used to watch the Tibetan Opera. The White Palace was called the Winter Palace and the white color signified peace, calmness and togetherness. The largest hall in the White Palace is on the fourth floor, the living quarters and the offices are on the fifth floor. The Potala Palace has a beautiful Balcony that faces Lhasa.

The Red Palace exists in the middle of the Potala Palace and after the fifth Dalai Lama died, it was painted in a red color that signifies power and dignity. The walls of the Red Palace have many Buddhists stories written on them. It has three chapels. The North chapel is dedicated to the Dali lama, Buddha and his medicines. The East chapel is dedicated to the Indian monk who introduced Buddhism in Tibet. The West chapel is said to be the most luxurious chapel as it has 3,000 kg of gold and foil with hundreds and thousands of gems and pearls

Jerusalem Old City

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and also the largest city in the country. Jerusalem Old City is said to be the oldest and the holiest city in the world. It has a history that spans back to the fourth millennium BC. The old city is full of sites that are holy and thus attract countless pilgrims from all over the world. Jerusalem is claimed to be sacred by the three major religions. It is believed by many that anyone who is a Christian, Jewish or Muslim must once pay a visit to this holy place. The old city is filled with countless temples and ruins that any tourists can visit. The old city of Jerusalem has a very strong combination of Jewish and Arab culture.

The main attractions are found in the overcrowded city which includes some remains of the Roman dynasty. The Tower of David is where King David had his final resting place. But the main focal point of attraction is where Jesus is said to have been crucified.

Jerusalem Old City is also famous for the ‘Wailing Wall’ which was once called the Solomon temple. The wall has countless scribbled messages to God that are hidden in and around the stones. The wall is a very enchanting place for tourists to come and get a firsthand experience of some common Jewish rituals. The Dome of the Rock, located at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, is a shrine that represents the holiest place of the Islam religion. Muslims believe that the site is where the prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven.

Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an

The Terracotta Warriors and Horses were erected next to Qin Shi Huang’s burial site. Qin was the first emperor in China. It is a said in folklore that these warriors are real soldiers which were buried with him so that they could guard him in his afterlife.

The Terracotta civilization dates back to 210 BC but the site was discovered by farmers in 1974. The average height of this army ranges from 6 to 6.5 feet and they are standing in proper order of their roles. The soldier sculptures appear ready to go to the war and are all fully dressed with their weapons in hand. The generals are in the front, being the tallest, followed by acrobats, bowman and infantry soldiers. This site is breathtaking and is considered one of the wonders of the world. In total, there are over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses. Much of the sculptures are still buried in the ground.

It is said that the statues were constructed by local craftsman. In total, eight different kinds of moulds were used to create the face. Clay was added to the mould to give a proper structure and facial expression. All of them vary in their height and hairstyle, depending on their rank. There are a total of four pits that are seven meters deep. The fist pit is 230 meters long and has 8,000 figures. The ceiling is water proof and made of reed mats and wood.

Serengeti Migration From Tanzania to Kenya

The Serengeti migration is a remarkable and impressive story. This migration takes place twice a year within Kenya and Tanzania and is considered one of the greatest migrations of wildlife on the planet.

During the month of October, almost two million herbivores travel from the northern hills to the southern plains. In April they return to the north by crossing the Mara River. This cycle is usually referred as the circular migration. The Serengeti is located in the eastern part of Africa.

The Serengeti is one of the ten natural travel wonders of the world. Its ecosystem is spread across 60,000 square kilometers. When the season changes, thousands of wild life, such as wildebeests and zebras, migrate to greener pasture for food and water. While migrating, some animals are able to make the journey and some die during the trip. When the animals are migrating, predators keep a close watch on them and seek out the weaker prey that can be killed for food.

The Serengeti has many national parks and animal reserves. Statistics show that the Serengeti has more than two million herbivores and thousands of carnivorous animals that take part in the migration. Some of the more common animals include blue wildebeests, gazelles, zebras and buffaloes.

The Serengeti migration is a treat for the tourists who love to be out in nature with wildlife. One can spend time in luxurious lodges and tented camps. There are well-guided nature walks and off-road tours in 4×4 vehicles. Going on a safari jeep expedition can give visitors close encounters with the animals.

The Pyramids of Giza

Egypt has more than 100 pyramids that are spread all over the country. These pyramid structures are made up of sandstone brick. The pyramids were built for the rulers of Egypt. The first pyramid that was built in Egypt was the Pyramid of Djoser during the third dynasty.

The three most well-known Egyptian pyramids are the Pyramids of Giza. These pyramids were built on the outskirts of Cairo. They are located five miles from the old city of Giza which resides on the Nile River.

The Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid ever built. These pyramids are included as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The three are named the great pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), the pyramid of Khafre (Khafra) and the pyramid of Menkaure. The pyramid of Menkaure has three smaller pyramids that are right next to this main structure and are called the Queen’s Pyramids.

The pyramids at Giza attract great tourist attention every year. Out of all the three pyramids at Giza, only the pyramid of Khafre retains some parts of the originally polished limestone casing near its pinnacle. To the naked eye, the pyramid of Khafre looks to be the tallest, but in reality the pyramid of Khufu is the tallest of them all. Nearby, visitors can see the huge sculpture of the Great Sphinx. There are also many cemeteries and a village where the workers lived. The Pyramids of Giza are the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Easter Island in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean

Easter Island is located 2,180 miles (3510 km) west of Santiago, Chile. This Island is full of charm and beauty and has a fascinating history. The island is popularly known for its monumental structures. Generations after generations of people lived here and left their distinctive mark on this Island.

Easter Island is also known for its beautiful stone statues call “moai” which are made of volcanic rock. There are nearly 1,000 stone statues within Easter Island and the purpose of the statues is a mystery. Historians say that perhaps the statues represent the gods or early ancestors. The biggest moai is said to be 10 meters tall and weight around 75 tons.

The island has many popular resorts, beaches and coastlines that spread over 4,000 kilometers. The weather varies from being either dry or wet because of the island’s Mediterranean Climate. Easter Island also has offers visitors a look at old Chilean architecture.

Most of the beaches have five star hotels and resorts with the latest state-of-the-art technology. Water sports are the center of attraction for many tourists, with surfing and fishing being among the most popular activities. Tourists can eat exotic seafood and drink expensive wine while staying on the island.

Cappadocia in Nevsehir

Cappadocia is located in Nevsehir Province, in the middle of Turkey, and is 200 km long and 400 km wide. Almost three to four million years ago there was a volcanic eruption that shook the Central Anatolian Plateau and wiped everything from the land. This site is becoming a favorite tourist spot because of its rocky terrain, unique culture and history. Due to high sweeping winds, Cappadocia has interesting natural rock formations such as: inverted cones, chimneys and mushrooms. The people of the area cut into the soft rocks to create buildings. Cappadocia has many underground cities, churches and a beautiful landscape. Currently, there are more than fifty churches in this valley.

The name Cappadocia came from Persia and means “the land of fine horses.” It is believed that during the medieval period this area was used to breed animals. Cappadocia still has indigenous people that live there. Some of the areas have fallen under a conservation policy requiring that new houses be constructed out of stone to maintain the uniqueness and style of the region.