A lot of people have been asking me what my favorite thing was about my 80 days around the world. To me, that question is impossible to answer. I visited so many countries and each had unforgettable sights that were as unique as they were breathtaking. I decided, instead, to create a Top 30 of my favorite sights from the journey (in no particular order).
1. Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan
Shirakawa-go is small remote village hidden in the the Shogawa River Valley, famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri thatch roofed farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old.
2. Hạ Long Bay, Vietnam
A bay off the coast of Northwestern Vietnam filled with thousands of massive limestone karsts and isles creating the appearance of mountains floating on water.
3. Thai Pongal, Chennai, India
The Tamil winter harvest festival celebrated over four days across India.
4. Heaven’s Gate, Sapa, Vietnam
A lush lookout over the eastern most foothills of the Himalaya mountain range.
5. Kasuga-taisha, Nara, Japan
Nara’s most celebrated shrine, famous for its hundreds of bronze lanterns, which have been donated by worshipers and lit only twice a year reminding you of old world Japan by candlelight.
6. View from the Shard, London, England
The new tallest building in London, provides an excellent vantage point for sunset and the night lights of London.
7. Fulton Center, New York, USA
A massive new transit center and retail complex built in Lower Manhattan.
8. Koyasan, Wakayama, Japan
As spiritual and remote as it is beautiful, Mt. Koya offers world-revered temples, grave-sites, and the opportunity to stay in a Buddhist temple overnight.
9. Lao Chai Village, Sapa, Vietnam
Nestled in the deep in the Muong Hoa River valley and surrounded by rice paddies, this small village represents a old world way of life.
10. Chandni Chowk, Delhi, India
One of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, filled with winding narrow alleys that you can get lost in for hours.
11. Naoshima, Kagawa, Japan
An island in the Seto Inland Sea that is known for its modern art museums, architecture and sculptures featuring the Chichu Art Museum, Lee Ufan Museum, and all the buildings of the Benesse House (all designed by the well known Japanese architect Ando Tadao).
12. Brooklyn Bridge, New York, USA
The stalwart cable stayed/suspension bridge connecting Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn over the East River.
13. Teshima Art Museum, Kagawa, Japan
The museum itself is a massive freestanding concrete shell (40 by 60 meters) designed by Ryue Nishizawa and houses just one piece of artwork: Matrix, by sculptor Rei Naito.
14. British Museum, London, England
Among the largest and most comprehensive collections of ancient artifacts in existence, walking through its’ hallowed halls is like striding through history.
15. Trang An Grottoes, Ninh Binh, Vietnam
A boat trip rowing around the winding Ninh Binh river and through the massive limestone karsts via small water filled caves beneath them.
16. Waimea Canyon, Kauaʻi, USA
The long and winding drive along what is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific (a large canyon, approximately ten miles long and up to 3,000 feet deep), reveals just how much terrestrial diversity Kauaʻi has to offer.
17. Jigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano, Japan
The Park offers a serene wood-lined walk through the forest leading visitors to the unique experience of seeing wild Japanese Macaques monkeys or Snow Monkeys bathing in a natural hot spring.
18. Na Pali Coast, Kauaʻi, USA
The rugged 16 miles northwestern coastline of Kauaʻi features other worldly untouched beauty and hundreds of high cliffs that reach up to 4,000 feet in height.
19. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram, India
A waterfront temple which overlooks the Bay of Bengal and dates back to the 8th Century AD.
20. Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Japan
The shrine complex consists of multiple buildings, including a prayer hall, a main hall, and a noh theater stage but the main attraction is the shrine’s massive torii gate which, at high tide, appears to be floating in the sea.
21. 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanzawa, Japan
Among Japan’s most popular art museums, it exhibits works of acclaimed contemporary artists from Japan and all over the world and permanent installations like The Swimming Pool by Leandro Erlich, Blue Planet Sky by James Turrell, and L’Origine du monde by Anish Kapoor.
22. Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Captures the beauty and importance of islamic works and styles across continents and time.
23. Rodin Museum, Philadelphia, USA
The largest collection of sculptor Auguste Rodin’s works outside Paris, featuring larger than life sculptures like The Thinker (1880–1882) and The Gates of Hell, a massive 18ft-tall bronze doorway.
24. Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa, Japan
Sighted as one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan, Kenrokuen (or “Garden of Six Sublimities”) features spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and broad views.
25. Historic District, Philadelphia, USA
In addition to the national monuments like the Liberty Bell and the Independence Hall, the cobblestone paths of Philadelphia’s Historic District contain gorgeous brownstones and beautiful mini-parks; a strong reminder of the country’s beginnings.
26. Street Art, Penang, Malaysia
In 2012, the young Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic took to the streets of George Town, Malaysia to create humorous and vibrant murals that celebrate the exuberance of life in the inner city.
27. Ghibli Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Purpose built to capture the creativity and curiosity of the Ghibli films, featuring hidden doors, beautiful stained glass windows, three museum-only Ghibli animated shorts, and real story boards that you can pick up and flip through from past Ghibli work.
28. Borough Market, London, England
One of the oldest and most lively wholesale food-markets in London bustles on Saturday mornings as locals and tourists meander amongst the endless food stalls.
29. Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto, Japan
Famous for it’s thousands of vermillion torii gates which sit atop a network of mountain trails on the sacred Mount Inari in Southern Kyoto.
30. Street Food Tour, Hanoi, Vietnam
While, I’ve tried hard not to include specific foods on this list, I’m making a kind of exception for the street food tour I took in Hanoi which not only provided some of the most delicious street treats I’ve ever tasted, but also allowed me to explore the chaotic and vibrant streets of Hanoi by foot.
Want to see what else I saw? Check out my travel journal documenting each country’s travels in the collection below.
Around the World in 80 Days
I'm on a 3-month journey around the world. Here are some photos and musings from my travels.medium.com
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