#9 Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country’s prime attraction for visitors

This place is a must see!

#10 Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls are located on the border of Canada, province of Ontario and USA, state of New York. Niagara Falls are a collective of three waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Falls are not high, but very wide. In high fall, nearly 6 million cubic feet (168,000 cubic meters) of water falls on a crest line. 

The history of the falls brings us about 12,500 years back. That was a time after the Ice Age when the Niagara Peninsula became free from ice. The melted ice started to flow down creating Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and Niagara River, all the way down to the sea through St. Lawrence River. Later, about 10,000 years ago, Wisconsin glaciation formed the features that became Niagara Falls

If you decide to visit these amazing falls we recommend to take the 'Maid of Mist'. This is the most popular and also the oldest (it started in 1846) attraction to explore the full beauty and power of the falls. It operated from April/May to October each year. The boat takes you to the base of magnificent American and Horseshoe Falls...a really unforgettable experience! 

for more information visit: http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/play/

#11 Petra, Jordan

Petra, the fabled "rose red city, half as old as time" is a world wonder and is without a doubt Jordan's most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction.
These giant red mountains and vast mausoleums of a departed race have nothing in common with modern civilization, and ask nothing of it except to be appreciated at their true value- as one of the greatest wonders ever wrought by Nature and Man.

Entrance to this historical city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge over 1km in length which is engulfed by soaring 80m high cliffs. These cliffs alone are an amazing site due its interesting colors and rock formations. As you reach the end of the gorge, you will see your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh (Treasury).

This ancient tomb of an important Nabataean king is an awe- inspiring site with the tomb carved out of sheer, dusky pink rock-face and represents the engineering genius of this ancient civilization.

You would need at least four or five days to really explore this majestic land as the Treasury is merely one among many wonders that surround Petra.

 Tip #1: Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and a hate to protect you from the sun, and always carry plenty of drinking water.

Tip #2: The best time to see Petra, especially if your planning on taking photos, is either early to mid-morning  or late afternoon, when the angled sun highlights and enhances the amazing natural colors of the rocks.

Although much has been written about Petra, nothing really prepares you for this amazing place. It has to be seen to be believed.

#12 Four Seasons Resort, Bora Bora, Motu Tehuto, French Polynesia

Four Seasons Resort, Bora Bora is a luxury resort located at Motu Tehotu on the Island of Bora Bora, in the Society Islands of French Polynesia.
The resort is home to a lagoon sanctuary and home to over 100 species of marine life. From the moment you arrive on the island of Bora Bora you'll experience the South Seas redefined.
The resort offers 121 spacious hideaways nestling around Bora Bora lagoon and its outer beaches. The over water bungalows perch on stilts above the lagoon! So those of you who want to experience real life living on water well this is it! So come experience the spirit of French Polynesia!

#13 Palau, Pacific Ocean, East of the Philipines

Located in the Western Pacific Ocean, the islands of Palau are inimitable. 

Palau is an archipelago of about 300 islands only of which 9 are inhabited with a total population of 25,000 where it was even used as the set for one of the seasons on the hit TV series; SURVIVOR!!!

Visiting Palau, assumes you are ready to get wet! Most tourists who come here spend most of their time underwater, for Palau is among the world's most spectacular diving and snorkelling destinations. It features coral reefs, blue holes, hidden caves and an astonishing spectrum of coral and rare marine life!

But you don't have to get entirely get wet. On land the islands embraces the areas most richest flora and fauna; exotic birds flying around, crocodiles slipping through the mangroves and not to mention the capital
of Palau, KOROR!!!
Koror is home to restaurants, bars and shopping! Places like Pirates Cove for sushi and Indian at the Taj offer various styles of cuisine to suit everybody's taste buds.

Further down south of the capital are the Rock Islands!! A beautiful chain of 300 protected islands with white sand and white mud beaches!

When people go on vacation in Palau they usually take a week off from work and spend both weekends. In other words, ten days to two weeks. Plan on spending two days to get there (because of an overnight in Koror) and two days to get back (because of the international date line).

So without any further hesitation, add this destination to your bucket list,  bring your flip flops and your swimwear and prepare to be in awe! 

 

#14 Antelope Canyon, Navajo, Arizona, USA

Antelope Canyon consist of two sections: upper and lower. Upper in Navajo means "the place where water runs through rocks". The Lower part means "the spiral rock arches". Canyon was formed mainly due to flooding. Rainwater runs into basin above the canyon sections and then as it picks up speed and sand, it rushes into narrow passageway. That is making deep corridors and also smoothing the edges into 'flowing' shape.  

Upper Canyon is more popular because it is located on the ground level and doesn't require any climbing. Also, the sunlight beams are much more common. The beams start on 15th March and disappear on 7th October each year. 

Lower Canyon is few kilometers away and you have to climb through several installed stair cased to get there. It is longer, narrower and footing is not available in some areas. Despite those, Lower Canyon is still an attractive place for many photographers and tourists. 

Upper Antelope Canyon

Lower Antelope Canyon

#15 Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

"The Crown of Palaces" Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is widely considered one of the most beautiful buildings ever created. The exquisite marble structure in Agra, India is a mausoleum, an enduring monument to the love of a husband of his favorite wife. It is also a testament to the artistic and scientific accomplishments of a wealthy empire.

Whilst the arch and dome profile of clean and white marble has become iconic, other apparent beauties lie in the Taj Mahal's painstaking details:

• Inlaid semiprecious stones and carvings
• The Koranic verse in calligraphy create an enchanting interior space where the husband came to visit his wife's remains before he was eventually interred at her side.

How to get there:

Agra is a major city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Around three million people visit the Taj Mahal each year. The city is accessible by bus, train and (limited) air service. The area also has a wide range of tourist amenities  Access to the Taj Mahal is quite complex by foot.

#16 Heaven's Trail- Sylt, Northern Germany

 

Professional photography or does this view really exist?...

This image taken by Thomas Zimmer, resembles the true beauty of the universe from a view on earth!

Located on a small island, situated on the west coast of the North Sea, Sylt delivers this stunning view of the cosmos and the final result is visual poetry that communicates the wordless awe we sometimes feel in the beauty of nature.

Every 2 years, the stars line up with this trail on June 10th- June 18th and is known as heavens trail.

This by all means is definitely a sight to see and a place to add to your bucket list!!

And who knows, you might find this exact same trail as Thomas Zimmer did; one clear, moonless night, when the Milky way spins into view and you happen to look up and see it, perfectly aligned with reality.

#17 Gruner See, Styria, Austria

The Gruner See also known as the Green Lake is a lake in Sytria Austria. The lake is surrounded by mountains and forests. The water comes from the snowmelt off the mountains and during winter the surrounding area is used as a county park.

It is a particular favourite site for hikers. But as the temperature starts rising in spring, the ice and snow on the mountaintops begins to melt and runs down into the basin of land below. The lake swells up to engulf the entire area including the park and is a must see on ones bucket list

#18 Palm Island, Dubai

The Palm Islands in Dubai are the three largest artificial islands in the world. Constructed by Nakheel Properties, they consist of:

• The Palm Jumeriah
• The Palm Jebel Ali
• The Palm Diera

These Islands are located off the coast of the Persian Gulf. Some of the key features of the three islands are the luxury hotels, exclusive residential beach side villas, apartments, marinas, water theme parks, restaurants, shopping malls, sports facilities and health spas.

To experience a virtual tour of the Palm Islands, please visit:
http://www.airpano.com/360Degree-VirtualTour.php?3D=UAE-Dubai-Islands-Virtual-Tour

#19 Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore, Italy

The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast in the Itallian Riveria. Over the past centuries, people have built terraces on the steep, rugged landscape up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Also known as the "Five Islands", they compose of:

• Monterosso al Mare
• Vernazza
• Corniglia 
• Manarola
• Riomaggiore

Both the coastline and five villages are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park.

Cinque Terre, "The Five Islands"

Interesting Fact:

The only mode of transport to the villages are by walking paths, trains and boats. Cars are not accessible.

For more information and exquisite pictures, please visit:

http://lifesessions.com/gallery/cinque_terre/cinque_terre_italy.html

#20 Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russian Federation

Lake Baikal is the worlds biggest lake, it is 640km long and could be considered as a sea. It is also the oldest freshwater lake which originated about 20 million years ago. Here are some interesting facts about it:

• There are 27 islands and most are uninhabited
• About 300 streams and rivers flow into the lake, however only Angara (river) is an outlet
• Baikal is a home for many species of animals and plants, majority of them are unique to that area 
• The water in the lake is clear and pure, in a good day you are able to see 40meters into the lake; the max depth is 1632m

Lake Baikal is located in the south of Siberia between Irkutsk Oblast and Buryat Republic. I know, Siberia sounds freezing cold, but you should definitely visit Baikal once in your life. 

For more details visit http://www.lakebaikal.org/index.html

Our Blog Layout!

Here at "should-i-go-there" we aim at giving you the best destinations to visit and all the important information you need to know!

In order to ensure our content is delivered in a structured manner, we have chosen a simple yet effective layout for our blog.

The overall layout has the destinations on the left and various gadgets on the right.

• Search bar: Enables users to search for particular keywords or destinations quickly
• Blog Archive: Easy navigation between posts
• Translator: Enables users to view our Top 20 destination list in their own language allowing our blog to reach to ALL audiences

 In relation to our blog posts, we aim at keeping the image of the destination as our salient object as this is what will engage and hopefully make readers add it to their bucket list!. Followed by an image will be a brief yet detailed description of the destination. More images may be added to enhance the destination being presented.

 A light background has been chosen implying the idea of travel while also highlighting the text as it is one of the main focus of our blog.




Having said a formal welcome and explanation of our blog, we invite you to embark on a spectacular journey starting NOW!

Welcome to our Blog!!

Planet Earth is truly an amazing place.

Amongst our advanced cities and technology, we fail to appreciate what nature has to offer us with its jaw dropping locations, beautiful mountains and blue water lakes. Our little blue planet, has many breathtaking places just waiting for YOU to discover them!!

However life is short and funds are limited so here at "should i go there" we have broken down the top 20 places you should add to your bucket list to visit before your time runs out!!

So pack your bags, get your itenary out and prepare a breathtaking trip around the world!!