Saturday, March 21, 2009

Four Great Places to Visit When You Travel

By Paul Erikson

Historical sites are the wonders of the world. These ancient sites were constructed by our ancestors and give us windows into our past. They help tell us where we come from, how we though, and how we developed. They gives us information about societies long since dead but not forgotten. There are many historical sites in the world but the four best are Machu Picchu, Tikal, Angkor Wat, and the Pyramids. Each of these places, spread out around the world, are the remnants of once vast and powerful cultures.

Machu Picchu- Meaning Old Peak, this site is situated thousands of kilometers above sea level. This place is located high up in the Andes mountains and was once part of the Incan Empire. It is a world heritage site that needs to be preserved as it is considered to be a sacred place by the local people. Not much is known about the site as it seemed to be abandoned only a few hundred years after use but many theorize it was a summer home for the Incan king. Every year, millions of people venture over the Incan trail to see this ruin.

Tikal- Tikal is a world heritage site with beautiful temples that give us a peak into the lives of 7th century Mayans. This world heritage site is located in Guatemala and attracts millions of visitors a year. Luckily, they all come in the afternoon so if you wakeu p early, you can have this amazing place to yourself to explore. There are thousands of temples here and most are still buried under the jungle. It's a surreal experience walking around with just you and the jungle animals.

Angkor Wat- Angkor Wat and the Angkor temple complex are the most visited tourist attractions in the world. People come from all over the world to see the remains of this lost city. It has been featured in many movies and everyone is familiar with it. Located in Cambodia, Angkor was once the capital of the Khmer civilization. Built in the 12th century, there are hundreds of temples and structures here to explore. The most famous is the main temple of Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Te Phrom, the last being featured in the movie Tomb Raider. Make sure you come early to beat the crowds.

Pyramids- Pyramids are the most appreciated buildings that have stood the test of time. Situated in Egypt on the banks of river Nile, pyramids are a major tourist attraction. There are many pyramids in the world and around Egpyt but when people talk about the pyramids, they are talking about the great pyramids of Giza. These three goliaths give us insights into the ancient Egyptian culture, one of the oldest in the world. For a small fee, you can even explore the insides of these great structures, which take back over five thousand years.

These historical sites teach us about the development of human thought and society. While there are many historical and great sites in the world, these four teach us about the biggest and oldest civilizations in the world. These are truly grand monuments to civilizations long past that have stood the test of time. It's important to visit and learn from these places but also ensure they are protected for future generations.

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1 comment:

  1. Beautiful thought....Sure our ancestors were more sensible in dealing with each other....than the human race now who are barbarians, not necessarily with knives and iron weapons, but with plain words and their actions.
    Bitten by the travel bug!

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