World Nomad

Yosemite National Park – United States

August 15, 2006 at 3:47 am (North America, United States)

Yosemite is one of America’s premiere national parks and unlike Yellowstone they seem to have resonably restrained themselves from building huge cement veiwing points so that ‘nature’ is accessible for everyone. Parks are one of the greatest things America has to offer the traveller hopefully they can continue to restrain themselves for over commericalising this one and others. If you’re a fan of mounatinous valleys or waterfalls like me then this is a must see.

Google Earth - http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=21802

Wikipedia Article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite

WikiTravel Article - http://wikitravel.org/en/Yosemite

UNESCO Site - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/308

National Park Service Site - http://www.nps.gov/yose./

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Petra – Jordan

August 14, 2006 at 12:26 am (Jordan, Middle East)

Petra has a lot of tourist pulling power after starring in such masters as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, so maybe it is the desert heat, the nasty Arabs or that most have wised up an discovered that for all it’s grand appearances Petra doesn’t quite live up (on the inside anyway) to what they make it look like in the movies that means you can enjoy this exqisite place in relative peace at the right times.
Petra is a little more about the journey than the destination but then everything should be, walking through the Siq makes a grand entrance to your first view of Petra, the Treasury. If you don’t want to be underwhelmed you may not want to enter as the interior is quite plain as is with most buildings in Petra although it is not really a let down for most people.

Google Earth Placemark - http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=50758

Wikipedia Article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra

WikiTravel Article - http://wikitravel.org/en/Petra

UNESCO Site - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/326

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Ngorongoro Crater – Tanzania

August 10, 2006 at 4:26 am (Africa, Tanzania)

The Ngorongoro Crater is the remnant of a large volcano that “blew its top” and thank the cosmos it did because today it is home to nearly every animal native to East Africa including the Big 5, not only that but they are less shy which means you can get closer to them than in many other places and with the floor 260km² and an estimated 25,000 large animals inside you are guaranteed to see plenty of wildlife in addition to the unique cradle of life that is the crater itself.

Google Earth Placemark - http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=61364

Wikipedia article for Ngorongoro Crater - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngorongoro_Crater

UNESCO page for Ngorongoro Crater - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/39

Machu Picchu – Peru

August 9, 2006 at 4:21 am (Peru, South America)

Machu Picchu or Lost City of The Incas was discovered in 1911 which is quite amazing considering many of the locals in the area knew about, maybe keeping it a secret. Which wasn’t a bad idea considering that Peru is now trying to recover thousands of artifects removed by Hiram Bingham the perosn who discovered the city. Other than it’s unique location the stone work incorperated into the buildings estinated to have been built around 1440 which is descibed as perfect. Machu Picchu made the short list of 21 locations for the new 7 wonders of the world. Probably the best way to get here and really appreciate the construction of this small city is to walk the Inca Trail.

Google Earth Placemark – http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=11417

Machu Picchu Wikipedia Entry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu

UNESCO Machu Picchu Page - http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=274

Machu Picchu WikiTravel Entry - http://wikitravel.org/en/Machu_Picchu

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Potala Palace & Lhasa – Tibet

August 8, 2006 at 5:45 am (Asia, China, Cities, Tibet)

The Potala Palace was the home of the Dalai Lama from the 7th century until 1959 when China began it’s occupation of Tibet. It is famous for this reason and because of the unique architecture and religious and cultural significance.

Google Earth Placemark for Potala Palace - http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=458154

Wikipedia Entry for Potala Palace - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potala_Palace

Wikipedia Entry for Lhasa - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lhasa

WikiTravel Entry for Lhasa - http://wikitravel.org/en/Lhasa

Official Website of the Tibetan Government in Exile - http://www.tibet.com

Free Tibet Website - http://www.freetibet.org

UNESCO page for Potala Palace - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/707