15 Unforgettable UNESCO Heritage Sites

Often, I have been asked what my dream job would be. Being able to travel the world discovering beautiful places wouldn't a bad gig.  However, I'm not talking about being a travel writer, but working for UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. 

UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that promotes international collaboration through education, science, and culture in order to further fundamental human rights, justice and freedom all over the world.  As part of this effort, UNESCO catalogs and preserves sites of outstanding importance, either cultural or natural, to the common heritage of humankind with the purpose of bringing awareness of their significance to the world. 

Each year, nations that choose to participate may nominate sites to be added to the list, and listed properties must meet at least one of 10 criteria like representing a "masterpiece of human creative genius," or that it is an area of "exceptional natural beauty." However, when you visit any one of these 936 locations, it becomes exceedingly apparent why they are considered of value to humanity.

I had the pleasure of visiting and seeing quite a few UNESCO Heritage Sites around the world, and here are some of the most unforgettable places.

Ankor Watt (Siemreap, Cambodia)

There are three things I remember distinctly about my trip to Cambodia: the overwhelming heat, the temples, and the ever-present aftermath of Khmer Rouge.

I knew so little about Cambodia prior to my trip, and even now, after visiting and seeing most of the significant sites, I’m still uncertain as if I have grasped the enormity of the atrocities the Cambodian people were subjected to for nearly three decades.

There are two faces to Cambodia: one shiny and happy, the other dark and complex, but such is the yin and yang of Cambodia, a country that inspires and confines.

The Great Wall (China)

It’s hard to overlook the magnitude of People’s Republic of China, a country where over 1.3 billion people reside, almost 130 different languages are spoken (excluding dialects or sub-dialects), and where there are more than 55 ethnic groups.

China has always intrigued me, and it has been on my bucket list of travel for as long as I could remember. The Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, and of course, Tienanmen Square, where the 1989 protests took place, the image a man standing in front of a column of tanks forever etched in my mind. It was an epic travel experience that I'd always dreamt of.

So, when Beijing was chosen as the site of the 2008 Olympics, I knew I had to make my pilgrimage to this land of one of the world’s earliest and greatest ancient civilizations.

Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (Japan)

Japan is known as the "Land of the Rising Sun", but for me, it will forever be the land of the most spectacular sunset. It’s also a place where I’d spent one of the most tranquil and peaceful New Year’s Eve.

Melaka & George Town (Malaysia) 

No country embodies a wonderful diversity in landscape, culture and people of Southeast Asia like Malaysia, and it has everything that one can hope for in vacation destination, a great mixture of cultures, history, people and some of the most delicious food I've had in SE Asia!

Malaysian cuisine is as diverse as its people, and the mélange of Chinese, Malay and Indian and even German (Café Edelweiss) dishes I had in Georgetown were some of the best I’ve had in the world.

Of course, no trip to Malaysia would be complete without visiting Melaka, a charming little town about 3 hours north of Singapore.

My favorite part of Malaysia, however, was the warmth of its people, and there are only few countries in which I have traveled where I was treated with such remarkable hospitality, kindness, and generosity (S. Korea & Turkey being the other). I've found the Malaysian people to be genuine in their approach to foreign visitors, another fine byproduct of the underdeveloped tourism industry, and unlike other countries in SE Asia where the majority of tourists tends to be Westerners, in Malaysia, most of the vacationers and tourists were Malaysians, which I really appreciated and enjoyed.

Overall, our 3 weeks in Malaysia was an absolutely unforgettable experience ... one we hope to repeat someday soon!

Changdeokgung Palace (Seoul, South Korea)

Seoul is FABULOUS! Over the past three decades, I have witnessed my homeland transform itself from the rubble of the Korean War to become an economic powerhouse not only in Asia but worldwide, and no city in South Korea epitomizes and reflects this transition like its capital, Seoul. From the concrete jungles of the 80’s and 90’s to the softer-edged 21st century urban oasis that it has become since the new millennium, largely thanks to its visionary Mayor, Seoul is not only one of the most interesting and exciting cities in Asia but also the most tourist-friendly.

Seoul is a cosmopolitan city that equals, and in some respects, surpasses the likes of other megapolis in the world like New York City and Tokyo. Everywhere you look, there’s a reflection of prosperity that has been built from sheer determination and dedication of its citizens. From the upscale high-rises in Gangnam district to the chic boutiques in Apgujeong; or the rows galleries filled with fine art in Samcheongdong district to the regal omnipresence of Gyeongbokgung, Seoul is a sophisticated traveler’s dream come true.

Great thing about Seoul is that, like NYC, another favorite city of mine, it’s ever-changing and ever-evolving, and every time I return to the city, I’m reminded that the best is yet to come.

Istanbul (Turkey)

Sometimes, traveling is more about people than places, and I fell in love with Istanbul long before I arrived in Turkey. I was first introduced to the warmth and the generosity of the Turkish people while living in Frankfurt, Germany, also known as “little Istanbul”.

From market vendors to restaurateurs, classmates to language teachers, the vibrancy and kindness I had experienced from almost every Turkish immigrant I’d encountered was a welcoming contrast to the austerity and aloofness of the local Germans.

I’d always heard from travelers returning from Turkey that you arrive in Turkey as a guest and leave as a friend, and my experience in Istanbul was no different. Everywhere I went, I was overwhelmed by the hospitality of just about everyone I’d come across.

Needless to say, I had a wonderful time in Istanbul, an amazing city full of extraordinary history and culture, breathtaking scenery, and excellent cuisine. So, teşekkür ederim ... thank you Istanbul for an unforgettable trip.

Salzburg (Austria)

The hills may not be alive with the sound of music, but Salzburg, in my opinion is the most beautiful town in Austria.  Despite the inaccuracy of the Von Trapp family’s escape route, this birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart boasts itself as being the Golden City of High Baroque, which becomes self-evident as soon as you step into its Altstadt.

Being in Salzburg is like being in a fairytale.  Standing beside the fast-flowing Salzach River, the Altstadt’s mosaic of graceful domes and spires, the formidable cliff-top fortress and the mountains beyond will enchant you even before you get to the old town.  Everywhere you go, you’re overwhelmed by the breathtaking scenery, the skyline, and the history.

The best time to visit Salzburg is during Christmas, when the tradition and the festivities of the holiday highlight its beauty.  You’ll be charmed by the wonderful Christmas Market on the Cathedral Square, the traditional stalls, the stars overhead and the quality of the products, and enchanted by traditional craftsmanship, delicious Christmas cookies, aromatic tree ornaments and many arts and crafts of the season.  It’s definitely an experience that you should not miss.

Brugge (Belgium) 

Bruges, Venice of the North as it’s called, is a city straight out of a fairytale with its picturesque medieval architecture and gorgeous landscape reminiscent of the works of Flemish masters – and one my favorite little cities in Europe.

Prague (Czech Republic)

My first trip to Prague was when Europe was experiencing one of the coldest winters in almost a century. Although I was used to the cold winters in NYC, I never felt the kind of wind chills and frosty conditions that I'd faced in Europe. It was absolutely brutal and so cold that even my teeth hurt.

Despite the syberian weather, I was determined to travel and experience places in Europe that I’d always dreamt of. Prague had been on my travel bucket list for some time, and I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity.

Being there in the winter, it seemed that my husband and I had the whole city to ourselves. We strolled through the empty streets, admiring the dream-like scenery, stopped at little cafés straight out of Tolstoy novels, and as we crossed Charles Bridge, I felt as if we’ve been transported to another time and place. It was beauty beyond my imagination, and its alluring skyline left me breathless.

Albi, Arles, Carcassonne, Mont Saint Michel, Pont du Gard, Saint-Emilion, Strasbourg (France)

Not surprisingly, there are over 30 UNESCO Heritage Sites in France, and as a self-proclaimed Francophile, I’ve spent the past decade traveling and discovering everyone one of them. From the picture perfect country sides of Alsace to the magnificent beaches of Dune de Pyla, I love all the wonders that the country has to offer: breathtaking scenery, charming villages and towns, spectacular beaches (mostly the western coast and not the proverbial Cote d’Azur) and mountains, the divine selection of wine, the scrumptious cuisine … and the list goes on and on.

Arles

Carcassonne

Mont Saint Michel

Pont du Gard

Saint-Emilion

Strasbourg

Pisa & Siena (Italy)

Tuscany (Toscana) in the Northwestern region of Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. That’s perhaps the reason why my husband and I've had our doubts about visiting Tuscany for awhile. However, considering that it is possibly the greatest repository of art in the world, and home to world class wine and cuisine, we could no longer resist the temptation of visiting these beautiful parts of Italy.

Berne (Switzerland)

It would be hard to find a more idyllic town in Europe than Bern (Berne).

I'd visited Berne during my first trip to Switzerland, and when the train pulled into the central station, I thought I was looking a mirage.  I had to get off the train to see whether the picture perfect town outside my window wasn't a figment of my imagination.

What a beautiful city it turned out to be! A city that I’ve never even heard of until I opened my guidebook. Having arrived in the city at sunrise, I strolled through the quiet and empty streets alone, feeling as if I was walking through pages in a fairytale. Then, just as the cafes and markets were opening, I found a quaint little cafe at the edge of the Nydeggbrucke (Nydegg Bridge) near the Bear Pit.

I must say, it was a dream-like experience, and although I’ve visited Bern several times after moving to Europe, the first time was the best, and the most unforgettable.

Quito & Cuenca (Ecuador)

Traveling is like falling in love. Although I can’t put into words what it is about a place that I’m drawn to, I know it and feel it as soon as I find it, and as soon as I landed in Ecuador, I was captivated!

Sitting on the equator between Colombia and Peru, Ecuador may be one of the smallest and less-known countries in South America, but it’s packed with the most startling contrasts of scenery.

Everywhere we went, we were surrounded by breathtaking scenery, think majestic mountains of Switzerland alongside the tranquil beauty of the Greek Isles. The eye-catching colors of Ecuador leap out from every corner of its diverse landscape.

Although the country’s greatest draw are the Galápagos Islands, the rest of Ecuador shouldn’t be seen merely as a stopover. Thanks to its compact size, traveling around Ecuador is easy, and this friendly and vibrant country truly is a microcosm of South America. For me, Ecuador was a wonderful introduction to the continent that I hope to see and discover more of in the future.

Chichen Itza (Yucatan, Mexico)

My first introduction to Mexico was no different than for millions of American college students. My best friend and I’d decided we wanted to get in on the beloved tradition of going to Cancun during spring break - a rite of passage so to speak, and boy, did we get exactly what we were looking for, plenty of partying and sun.

But even through the haze of all the partying and sun, what I remember most about Mexico was the enchantment of seeing and experiencing a culture that was none like I’d ever known. Whether you’re soaking up the sun on the breathtakingly beautiful white sand beach or marveling at the wondrous Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá; dancing the night away at a trendy high-energy night club in Cabo or enjoying one of its delectable traditional dishes, which has been deemed also as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, Mexico is adept at satisfying everything we look for as travelers.

French poet André Breton famously called Mexico the surrealist country par excellence, and every time I’m in Mexico, I’m reminded that what is ordinary there is truly extraordinary.

Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Taos Pueblo, Carlsbad Cavern National Park (The U.S.) 

"America's national parks are a treasure house of nature's superlatives – 84 million acres of the most stunning landscapes anyone has ever seen. They became the last refuge for magnificent species of animals that otherwise would have vanished forever; today, they remain a refuge for human beings seeking to replenish their spirit." - PBS, The National Parks

My First Trip to Europe (Belgium, Switzerland, The UK)

One of the most enjoyable aspect of writing a travel blog is that I get to relive the trips I’d taken. I get to write about my own experiences and reminisce about the places I'd visited; what I’d seen, how I felt, and more importantly, the people I met.

And no trip has been more memorable or had a monumental impact on my life like my first trip to Europe.

It was summer before I'd graduated from the University of Houston. My then boyfriend and I had decided that we would take a trip together to Europe in attempt to rekindle the flame of our relationship which had been fizzling for some time. Sadly but not surprisingly, our relationship didn’t make it past that month. However, our discussion about visiting Europe had sparked my interest and curiosity, and I decided, what the hell, I'll go alone!

The thought of seeing the Eiffel Tower, the Seine or sitting in a little café in Paris seemed like a lot better way to get over my breakup and my boyfriend than sitting in front of TV stuffing my face with a tub of Blue Bell ice cream.

So, there I was, off to start my adventure. First stop, London, England.

Considering that it was my first transatlantic flight and there was a 6 hour delay, I was exhausted when I’d arrived at Gatwick almost 20 hours from the time I’d left Houston. Nevertheless, I remember being pumped, as the excitement of being in a new country, a new continent energized me.

Like most first time visitors and backpackers, I’d purchased a Euro Rail pass which allowed me to travel to and from any country within a designated zone, and I had the option being able to stop anywhere I wanted. Although I had a rough idea and a plan of the countries and the cities I wanted to visit, I hadn’t made any hotel reservations prior to arriving in Europe. Naturally, this meant that my first stop in a city would be a reservation or tourist office at the train station to find a hotel, which in most cities was quite easy to do.

In London, I was able to find a B&B as soon as I got out of the customs in Gatwick, and having very little knowledge about the city, I was on my way to Victoria Station via Gatwick Express. Once I arrived at the Victoria Station … during the rush hour, mind you … I was absolutely lost. I began asking just about everyone I saw for direction, and although most Londoner I’d encountered were lovely … their word, not mind … but being thrown into a foreign environment with people who seemed to speak a whole another language was difficult to cope. My confidence was shaken, and I began to wonder whether I’d made a mistake thinking that I could make the trip alone.

After circling the neighborhood for what seems to be an eternity, I finally found the B&B I'd reserved, Victorian Inn. It was a small but charming place, just as I’d envisioned B&B’s in London to be. The receptionist was unpleasant … surprisingly French. The bathroom was about as big as my (walk-in) closet at home, maybe, even smaller; however, the view overlooking a lovely courtyard was absolutely splendid. I was happy.

London turned out to be a (geographically) larger city than I’d anticipated, and coming from Texas where I was used to driving everywhere, I was exhausted after walking around the city all day.

But it was enchanting to be there, seeing places like the Buckingham Palace, National Gallery and Piccadilly Square, and walking through the St. James Park, which to this day is my favorite place in London, was sublime even in the drizzling rain.

I was in awe of the breathtaking architecture, especially St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Westminster Abbey. I loved seeing Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre, wondering through the street in SOHO, and I was blown away by how good and spicy the Indian food was, which is saying a lot considering I’d grown up eating spicy kimchi.

I really liked London and felt some apprehension about forging ahead to Geneva, my next planned stop, as I’d finally begun to understand the British accent and knew that going across the Channel, my limited French would be tested … just hoped I’d run into someone name Monsieur or Madame Thibeau.

Now days, a trip from London to Brussels would take less than 2 ½ hours on a high-speed train. But, this was before the existence of Eurostar, and the only way to cross the English Channel was to take the arduous train-bus-ferry-bus-train(s) ride: a train from Victoria Station in London to the coastal town of Dover, then a bus ride to the ferry which takes you across the Channel to the coastal town of Ostend, Belgium, not technically to the train station as you had to get on another bus for that, and finally a train or many trains to get to the city your choice on the continental Europe.

I hadn’t planned to stop in Brussels, Belgium, but after traveling for almost 18 hours since leaving London, I couldn’t bear the thought of another 12 hour train ride to Geneva.

I must admit, my first impression of Brussels was not a good one. Considering that this was before I’d moved NYC, and the only inner city experience I had was driving through it on my way to the other side of town, arriving at a train station in the midst of the Red Light District, I was uncomfortable and disappointed at what I’d saw.

Fortunately, I was able to get pass my first impression, and once I arrived in the old town near the Grand Palace, I was swooned by the charm and the beauty of the city. Of course, it also helped that the restaurants in Brussels served up some of the tastiest meals I’ve ever had … especially the famous “the mussels in Brussels”.

Then, after an exhausting overnight train ride, I arrived in Bern, the idyllic capital of Switzerland.

I felt delirious from lack of sleep, and as the train zigzagged around the Alps, I didn’t know whether I was dreaming. When the train stopped in Bern, I had to get off the train to see whether the picture perfect town outside my window wasn't a figment of my imagination.

What a beautiful city it turned out to be! A city that I’ve never even heard of until I opened my guidebook. Having arrived in the city at sunrise, I strolled through the quiet and empty streets alone, feeling as if I was walking through pages in a fairytale. Then, just as the cafes and markets were opening, I found a quaint little cafe at the edge of the Nydeggbrucke (Nydegg Bridge) near the Bear Pit.

I must say, it was a dream-like experience, and although I’ve visited Bern several times after moving to Europe, the first time was the best, and the most unforgettable.

After almost 2 weeks in Europe, I finally made it to Geneva.

As in Brussels, I didn’t get a very good impression of Geneva at first. Although they were only an hour apart, I felt as if I was in another part of the world. I know now that this should have come as no surprise considering that Bern and Geneva are indeed located in different cantons that not only function as two separate states but also have completely different cultures and languages (Swiss German in Bern and French in Geneva).

Nevertheless, I was quite surprised at the startling contrast between the two cities, as Geneva lacked the charming village atmosphere I so loved in Bern. Also, unavoidably while traveling, I had an unpleasant encounter with locals who had made derogatory remarks towards me thinking that I was a Japanese tourist. Being that this was the first time I’d encountered such bigotry in Europe … at least not in such overt manner … I was shocked but at the same time terribly disappointed as I’d felt that the incident was a reflection of the city.

What had disgusted me even more was that when I’d confronted those who’d made the racist remarks and asked in English whether they had a problem, they seemed shocked and intimated, proving that as with all racists, the only reason why they were able to carry on their nonsense was because they assumed that I was a helpless tourist.

In spite of the unpleasant (to say the least) experience, I enjoyed the idyllic areas in Geneva, mainly the Old Town and the quays along Lac Léman (aka Swan Lake). I even found a lovely hotel tucked away near St Pierre’s Cathedral called Hotel les Armures, which also has a wonderful restaurant attached to it.

Unfortunately, racism is a fact of life. Sadly, I’ve learned since then that this is especially true in Europe. Nevertheless, I was determined not to let some closed-minded idiots ruin my vacation and stop me from discovering the world.

My First Trip to Europe (cont'd) Spain & France