Three Days in Cancun - Yucatán, Mexico

One day was spent at the Maya ruins of Chichen Itza in the pouring rain. Tropical depression Ida has set in over Central America. The region isn't expected to see the sun again until next Saturday. Cuba, weather wise, doesn't look much better. Thankfully, I did bring a rain jacket. My visit to Chichen Itza was concludes my viewing of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Tick. Another reason to get a job, I suppose.

Instead of scuba diving the last two days as planned, I did what I do at home: write, read and surf the internet. I tried going for a run but wilted because of the heat and humidity. My only real adventure out of the hotel was to find food. I found some great fish and chicken taco and quesadia stands along the road with great sauces.

Tonight, I meet up with five others from my group and we leave for Cuba around 8 pm. I hope the weather holds out for the flight.

Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

 
 
 
 
 
 

Machu Picchu, Peru

 

 

 

Machu Picchu is one of the world’s foremost archaeological sites. The amazing ruins was completely lost in the jungle until some local s led Hiram Bingham there in 1911. The Spaniards never found it , the Incas left no records about it, so Machu Picchu remains a great enigma, a whole city set on a saddle surrounded by immense jungle-covered mountains.

Prior to reaching Machu Picchu, I finished the book “The Machu Picchu Guidebook: A Self- Guided Tour” by Ruth M. Wright & Dr. Alfredo Valencia Zegarra. The book help prepare for the visit, but our tour guide provide significantly better and more comprehensive information than what was available in the book. The book was very rout and westernized. Our tour guide had more to offer from a local’s (native Peruvian’s) perspective.

I also finished reading “The Conquest of the Incas” by John Hemming. I enjoyed the book a lot and learned much about the Spanish conquest of the Inca nation. The book was somewhat dense (it included 100 pages of footnote), but well worth the read. I get a particular thrill out of reading about local area’s history while traveling through it.

I’m currently reading “100 Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garci’a Ma’rquez. I’m about halfway through it. I like it, but I really had great expectations and its not really living up to those expectations. Moreover, I’m really not a fiction reader. That may also be the problem.

Angkor Wat - Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor Wat was a definitely highlight of the Southeast Asian portion of our trip - pictured here during a sunless sunrise. Angkor is one of the world's biggest religious building - with its soaring towers and extraordinary bas relief. It is one of the most inspired and spectacular monuments ever conceived by the human mind. However, weather conditions were less than idea during our visit to Angkor - there was a plethora of umbrellas.

The majestic temples and monuments of Angkor, built between 9th and 13th centuries when the Khmer civilization was at the height of its extraordinary creativity, constitutes one of humanity's most audacious architectural achievements. From Angkor, the kings of he Khmer empire ruled once a vast territory that extended from what is now Southern Vietnam northward to Yunnan in China, and from Vietnam westward to the Bay of Bengal.

The hundreds of temples constitute the sacred skeleton of a much larger and spectacular administrative and religious center whose houses, public buildings, and palaces were constructed out of wood - because the right to dwell in structures of brick or stone was reserved for the gods.

Great Wall of China – Beijing, China

We spent the afternoon trekking a 10k portion of the Great Wall located 110km northeast of Beijing. The trek took approximately 3 hours.

Taj Mahal – Agra, India

Yet another highlight of the trip!!!! We spent two hours meandering around the Taj's grounds, myself listening to my IPod and taking in the Taj's timeless beauty. Of course, I was only listening to love songs...just kidding...or maybe not...

The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died at childbirth in 1631. It has been described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love.

Entrance – Petra, Jordon

As one reaches the city, via the “siq”, the façade of Al-Kanzna Tomb appears. It’s quite spectacular. I can only image the impression it made on the visitors to the city back-in-the-day when it was built.

Mike (foreground) and a Pyramid (background) – Cairo, Egypt

I've retired the orange hat (for a little while at least) and switched to the local headwear. But I'm still learning how to wear it properly.