Wonders
Natural Beauty & Human Achievement
Memories of backpacking around Syria, talking my way into Syria by getting a visa on the border, exploring ancient sights while hitchhiking the desert, and visiting a restricted military zone on the Israeli border, and more.
Enjoying the wonderful, crazy creatures of coastal Patagonia at Valdes Peninsula in Argentina.
Djenne was once an important stop on the Trans-Saharan route and was linked with the fortunes of the legendary desert city of Timbuktu.
Amid the northern mountains of Ethiopia the historic capital of castles at Gondar was once known as the "African Camelot".
On the edge of the Sahara in Algeria, five ancient fortified villages in the M'zab Valley preserve a unique Islamic culture lasting more than 1000 years.
Travel advice + inspiration for horse trekking in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan to the high altitude Ala Kul Lake.
Dominating the plain of Saqqara is King Djoser's step pyramid. It's a place you can ponder the ancient past in silence and get away from excessive tourism.
In 400-year-old Yongtai Ancient city - a ruined frontier fort on the Silk Road - remains a village of soldier-descendants, herding goats and sheep amid the arid surrounds of this turtle shaped fortress.
Staying at the cave house village of Lijiashan during winter 2011 and a revisit there in summer 2020.
Following the gorgeous Swahili Coast of Kenya, visiting beaches and islands, ancient Islamic ruins and Portuguese forts. Plus encounters with naughty monkeys.
Back in 1989 ... I simply walked into the entrance of Petra, Jordan, paid my fee, and wandered in with a sleeping bag under arm.
Hathor is a goddess of many things within the ancient Egyptian story. To visit this amazingly preserved temple at Dendara, alone, is wondrous.
I'm no diver and not much of a swimmer - but if you're like me, have courage and follow this advice for sately snorkeling the Blue Hole in Dahab, Egypt.
Visiting the ancient stone towers of Mestia - lost amid mid-winter snow, drinking with locals, surrounded by the high peaks of the Caucasus Mountains.
A volcanic eruption left haunting ruins of human occupation at Whalers' Bay on Deception Island in Antarctica.
Within the Kaluts region, you could be forgiven for wondering if you've stumbled into a lost city - as miles of eroded sand towers & blocks stick out of the desert.
Living on mountains amid the clouds, the Chachapoyas were known as the cloud people. And at the center of their world, the mighty ruins of Kuelap.
Traveling to the wind-sculpted formations for an overnight stay in the White Desert of Egypt is best done from Bawiti (Bahariya oasis), rather than in Cairo.
Monumental stone ruins are rare in southern Africa. Yet in the highlands of Zimbabwe, these awe-inspiring ruins rival the Inca sites of Peru.
Luxor can be painful beyond the ancient beauty - scammers, hawkers, gigolos and inflated prices. But it doesn't have to ruin your trip - try these tips!
Jaw-dropping views on the North Korea border - visiting Changbai Mountain & stunning Heaven Lake.
Van-camping in China, near Jian at Wandu Mountain City ruins, amid the valley of nobles tombs at the ancient capital of the Korean Goguryeo Kingdom.
Acknowledged as the "worlds oldest observatory", Zorats Karer is a 7500-year-old stone circle often-called the Armenian Stonehenge.
The Maya-like, Koh Ker Temple Pyramid towers above the jungle and is unlike anything at Angkor.
Impressions of crazy love amid a surreal past - MesoAmerican ruins of the Maya and others.
Sudan travel advice for taking the ship from Aswan in Egypt, across Lake Nasser to Wadi Halfa, then traveling to sights on route to Dongola. In Summer. HOT.
Discovered in 2005 and yet 5000 years old, Las Geel is one of the world's greatest prehistoric art sites.
Travel advice & pics for backpackers hiking Mount Sinai in Egypt. Consider climbing during the day, allowing 3 hours - with plenty of rest and photo ops.
The hike thru rainforest to the volcanic crater lake of Laguna Chicabal takes about 2 hours. But don't expect to swim as it's the sacred center of the Mam Maya cosmos.
A gigantic, stone face is half-buried at the ancient Pipil site of El Baul. Today, it's lost amid sugarcane plantations.
Traveling the Srinagar-Leh Highway. Travel photo-story and advice for the journey into the Himalayas. Built by the military, this is the only road linking isolated Ladakh with Jammu and Kashmir states.
In 1994, I hitchhiked to the remote rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, where in Medieval times they were called “The Jerusalem of Ethiopia”.
Adventures of trekking with a mule to the ruins of the last Inca Kingdom of Vilcabamba in the Espiritu Pampa of Peru.
Sudan's pyramids are older than Egypt's and there are more of them! But the pyramids at Meroe are much smaller. Still, you'll probably be alone & in awe.
Hiking Albania's Accursed Mountains? Check-out my experience of hiking from Valbone to Theth - awesome - in this travel advice blog + video.
Wonders
Natural Beauty & Human Achievement
