Australia served as a penal colony during the full extent of the British Empire. This site, and nearly a dozen across the continent have been preserved to show what life was like for the many convicts who came to call this strange new world, their home.

Standing there, stretching into Sydney Harbor is one of the most iconic buildings of the last century, the Sydney Opera House. It is the highlight of the land down under, or just another building? Unfortunately, I am going with the latter, and this is why.

The Everglades National Park is one of the few places in the world where you can see animals galore in such an amazingly managed and protected setting. Alligators, manatees, giant turtles and eagles are just the beginning of this ecological wonderland.

Bulguksa is widely considered one of, if not the most important Buddhist temple in all of Korea. It has a total of seven national treasures, including two gorgeous pagodas, a stone carved Buddha, and some of the oldest Buddhist scriptures in recorded history. This temple definitely lives up to the hype.

The Temple of Preah Vihear is one of the most stunning in the area, which is high praise given its proximity to Angkor and Ayutthaya. It is was built during the early Khmer Era in the 9th century AD and continued to be important until the Khmer collapse of the 14th century.

Namhansanseong is a fortress wall dating back from the Joseon Period in the last 17th century. The wall remains in pristine condition as are the fantastic temples in the area, and the wonderful places to eat.

Lima was the capital city of the domain of New Spain in South America following the easy defeat of the Incan Empire. As such, it was built up with only the best in Spanish architecture which remains intact today. The centre’s magnificent yellow buildings are a beautiful sight for architecture buffs.

The Pyu Civilization was the first in Burmese recorded history, predating the Bagan Kingdom. Sri Ksetra was the most important of the cities and was one of the first to introduce Buddhism to the region. Their remains are a part of Myanmar’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the least visited places in the world.

Ayutthaya was once the most important economic center of the world. From 1350 to its destruction in 1767, it served as the link of trade between east and west as it was positioned equidistant to India and China. Many visitors entered with wonder and left in awe, much like visitors today.

Koyasan Mountain is one of the most famous in all of Japan. For nearly 2000 years (it’s 1999 for now), it has served as a place of pilgrimage for thousands of monks. Today, dozens of preserved Buddhist monasteries remain along with the original routes which were carefully preserved. The graveyard that leads to the Okunoin Mausoleum of the monk Kukai is both eerie and beautiful at the same time.

Located less than thirty minutes south of the Korean capital is the best preserved city wall in the whole country. Hwaseong is a relatively new fortress (end of the 18th century) built by the Joseon dynasty to defend the city of Suwon and honor the late Prince Sado.

Changdeokgung was pretty much the most happening palace of the Joseon Dynasty. While it has been burned down a bunch of times, usually by the evil Japanese, Koreans have never tired of rebuilding and preserving their proud history. It also helped inspire Korean architecture during that era.

Chichen Itza was one of the most important cities in the Mayan Civilization which spread across modern-day Mexico and Central America. While often shrouded in mystery, this city is a testament to Mayan cultural and scientific achievements throughout the centuries.

The City of Cusco was once the capital of the empire of the Inka, the largest Pre-Columbian state in the Americas. It was a freshly created state which consisted parts of Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. What remains today of this once glorious city?

Mesa Verde National Park is one of the most incredible places to discover ancient Native American History in the US. The ‘cliff dwellings’ are truly unique as they are built on the sides of cliffs on a very high plateau in Southern Colorado.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park is one of the most underrated places to visit in the United States. It has the remains of Pueblo Indian Great Houses and amazing petroglyphs that have been preserved for one thousand years.

Jeju Island is known by the locals as the Hawaii of Korea. It is a volcanic island known for its natural beauty with crystal clear beaches, wonderful hikes, and of course, a giant volcano in the center. Given all the local praise, is Jeju really worth all the hype? Here is my take.

Rome was founded in 753 BC and endured for more than one thousand years. In that time, it spread language, culture, and religion to what was then 1/4 of the human population. Does the city of today live up to the legend? That is what we are here to evaluate.

The highest peak of the land of the rising sun does not disappoint. It towers over the surrounding landscape, and has pretty gorgeous sunsets too. Does it live up to the legend? Click to find out.

The historical sites of Kyoto are among the most beautiful on Earth. Founded more than a thousand years ago, the ancient capital offers gorgeous gardens, amazing architecture, and piece of mind. While ancient Kyoto is a thing of legend, how much of it remains? Click to find out!

Dolmens are ancient Neolithic-era tombs built around 5-6 thousand years ago and serve as one of the few signs of early human intelligence. While stonehenge is a far more popular dolmen site, the ones in Korea account for 40% of all the dolmens in the world. This site is actually in three different locations, with the best being in Gochang.

While Hahoe and Yangdong have similar significance, they could not be more different. Yangdong feels like an empty shell, a longing of what ‘used to be.’ Hahoe on the other hand, is one of Korea’s most beautiful folk villages. They are both the birth places of powerful clan leaders that gave rise to some of Korea’s most influential families.

There is no doubt that ‘Last Supper,’ beautifully displayed on the walls of the Maria Delle Grazie church, is a masterpiece. While is does shows the true skill of one of histories greatest minds, does a single painting deserve to be considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Personally, I don’t think so, but you be the judge.

The Khemer Empire’s ancient city of Angkor is much more than the ultra famous Angkor Wat. The area includes four other impressive temples which are MUST SEE. One little known fact is that the city was planned, was incredibly advanced for its time (1200 AD), and boasted a population of up to 1 million inhabitants.

These remote islands are the home of the legendary Komodo dragon. This deadly and enormous lizard was popularized by the BBC documentary life and it lives up to its hype. Komodo is much more than the dragons though as the coral reefs that surround the National park attract one of the most diverse marine ecosystems on earth.

The secret city of the Inca was a religious retreat of the highest importance. Discovered in 1911, Machu Picchu has often been called the find of the century and I have yet to meet someone who disagrees. To get the absolute best views, book entrance to hike ‘Huaynapicchu’ or ‘Montana Machu Picchu’ which surround this marvellous city.

The Nazca Lines are a series of geoglyphs and pictographs of animals, common objects, and geographical shapes carved out by the ancient Nazca culture of Peru. The most incredible feature is that due to a thin protective layer of hot air and extremely low precipitation, these lines have not been erased despite being drawn 2000 years ago.

Pisa is pretty much everything you expect from an ultra popular site: well kept buildings, a ridiculous entry ticket for everything, and souvenir shops…lots and lots of souvenir shops. If you want to know what the fuss is all about, go ahead, but I won’t blame you if you decide to skip this one all together.

These ancient Greek ruins are locally famous, but largely unknown to non-Italians. They consist of temples built around the 9th century BC, far pre-dating those in Acropolis, Athens and remarkably well preserved. The Concordia temple (pictured) is a perfect example of some of the earliest known Greek architecture.

The Great Wall, despite its name, is not a single wall but a network of dozens of fortresses that have been built on and off since the 3rd century BC till the 17th century AD. While it is not all connected, the area nearest Beijing is well preserved and easily accessibly. With a length of over 6000km, you’re going to be here a while.

Confucian scripture teaches that at death, the body and spirit separate. While the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty hold the physical bodies of the Joseon Dynasty monarchs, Jongmyo contains their spirits. Each year, the Jaerye festival puts on an amazing ritual that has been performed for over 600 years.

The tiniest country on earth is also the home of one of the most powerful, the Roman Catholic Church. Over the last two millennia, the RCC has managed to put together one of the most impressive collections of art, religious artifacts, and the third largest ancient egyptian collection on earth. Isn’t it supposed to be non-profit?

Lijiang is a city with a history spanning 800 years, mainly built by the Nakhi people, an ethnic minority of the Yunnan Province. Although it had developed a lot recently due to tourism, traditional textiles and even horseback riding can be observed by people who still follow the old ways.

Spanning the distance of a small country, the Grand Canyon definitely earns the ‘grand’ in its name. Due to its size, you have the option of exploring from multiple entry points, with the most popular being the ‘North Rim.’ At almost a mile deep, this is one landscape you won’t soon forget.

Mexico City is one of the most historic cities on earth. The beautiful town center known as “El Zocalo” has been improved with the discovery of “El Templo Mayor” the ancient center of Tenochitlan, the Aztec capital. While crime is what most people think of when it comes to Mexico, the reality simply doesn’t match that fantasy.

Deep within Gayasan National Park lies Haeinsa Temple, one of the ‘Three Jewel Temples of Korea.’ While the temple is impressive, what sets this site apart is the Tripitaka Koreana, a set of 80,000+ wooden tablets which are the oldest known flawless set of cannon ‘Buddhist Sutra’ writings.

Gyeongju was once the capital of the Silla Kingdom, the first to unify the Korean peninsula under one domain in 668 AD. These historic sites are reconstructions of what once was one of the most powerful and grandiose cities in the region. While the crowds can be borderline obscene, monuments like the Anapji Pond are indeed beautiful and are more so at night.

Zacatecas is one of the oldest cities in the new world and one of the many in Mexico to embrace its colonial roots. The historical center has beautifully preserved buildings complete with a huge cathedral that adorns the center. Nearby is a silver mine that is said to have provided up to 40% of the world’s silver.

Home to the tallest trees on earth, the Redwoods National and State Parks are an amazing place to get away from it all. Despite being quite famous, it receives relatively low tourism and even less people stay to camp. Drive along the Avenue of the Giants for a change to literally drive through a tree.

Dubbed the ‘Amazon of Mexico’ by some guy I spoke to once, Sian Ka’an is truly a natural wonder. Just south of the Mayan city of Tulum lies one of Mexico’s best kept secret, complete with jaguars, monkeys, dolphins, and even Mayan ruins. Did I mention that its beaches have been rated top 5…in the world!?

The city of over 100 islands that has inspired writers and poets often makes the bucket list of even the least romantic prune. But, does the myth in the songs live up to the hype, or has it been overrun by the over 200 million recorded tourists in the last decade? Here is a tip: Explore at night!

Teotihuacan was a massive pre-hispanic city whose inhabitants remain a mystery. Far pre-dating the Mexica (rulers of the Aztec Empire), construction for Teotihuacan started over 2000 years ago and included the massive pyramids of the sun and the moon, the largest in all of Mexico.

This collection of 40 tombs scattered throughout 18 different locations contains the remains of every single monarch of the Joseon Dynasty [1392-1911]. Shrewd grave-keepers managed to keep the tombs’ true occupants a secret during the Japanese occupation, leaving them as one of Korea’s few original structures.

Emperor Qin Shi Huang had accomplished incredible feats by being the first to unify China and starting what would become the basis of The Great Wall. This mausoleum contains 7000 terracotta (clay) soldiers, horses, and chariots he commissioned to protect him from the only thing he feared, his own mortality.