Today Show Visits Great Wall

In a taped segment, The Today Show aired the whole gang (Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker and Ann Curry) traversing the Great Wall. While they didn't say which section they visited, it appears to be the Mutianyu section. What leads me to believe this is that it wasn't overly crowded and they slid down on an alpine slide.

When I was in China in May, I chose to go to the Simatai section (which is less restored, farther away, and thus gives a more authentic feel with not too many people around) instead, but then again I didn't know about the slide. Maybe next time. Apparently at Simatai you can take a zip line down if you walk west, but I headed east instead towards the Heavenly Ladder. Simatai is extremely steep, and my wife is afraid of heights, so I had to walk most of it on my own once we got to the Wall. I don't think a zip line was going to pass muster.

While the Today segment is filled with the foursome joking around and making wisecracks it's pretty entertaining. Also there is no denying that the part of the Wall they visited is breathtaking. You can view the video here.


For information on the Great Wall check out its section on my website. Pictured above is the Heavenly Ladder section of the Great Wall. Visitors are no longer allowed to try a crawl up it.

Learning More About Peru and Machu Picchu

Before I travel thousands of miles to a destination, I like to read up on some of the history of the country I'm going to visit, as well as Tivo and watch any television specials that occasionally show up on stations like the History, Travel, and Discovery Channels. I find that this at the very least supplements the information I get from a guide and often times supersedes it.

For my trip to Peru and Machu Picchu, I chose to read the book The Last Days of the Incas by Kim MacQuarrie, and I don't think I could have found a better book. Not only is the history surrounding the conquest of the Incan Empire by Francisco Pizarro and company fascinating, MacQuarrie spins it into a fast-paced novel full of intrigue that should be turned into a movie or an HBO mini-series. While we all know the ultimate outcome, you can't help but root for the Incas.

In addition to the Spanish conquest of Peru, MacQuarrie also delves into the discovery of Machu Picchu and Vilcabamba, the last holdout of the Incas. The discoveries are equally interesting and also fraught with controversy. The book has its own website, and Mr. MacQuarrie also has a fascinating blog on Peru.

As always, for more information of Machu Picchu, you can check out the section on my website. Also do you like to read up before a trip, or do you prefer to learn on the fly -- relying on either a guide or a guidebook? Weigh in on the comment section, I'd love to hear people's thoughts.

Packing Heat in Egypt

Here is just a quick update on yesterday's post. I mentioned that our personal guard was carrying a machine gun, we'll here's the pic. (Click on it to get a better view.) We were visiting the Niuserre Sun Temple at Abu Gurab, a rarely visited site, when it was taken. He was a great guy and even helped us bargain at the bizarre. Needless to say, I think we got some good bargains.

Egypt Cracks Down on Vendors Near Pyramids

One of the biggest complaints of travelers to famous world monuments is that they are tourist traps with hordes of (sometimes pushy) locals selling various (often gaudy) knickknacks. Well the USA Today is reporting that Egypt is looking to clean up the area near the Pyramids of Giza and that in two years peddlers won't be allowed in the site.

Along with the crackdown of trinket vendors, Egypt is also modernizing the facilities near the pyramids and increasing security. Once the project is complete, tourists will be treated to a new lighting system, a cafeteria, and a new visitors center and bookshop. On the security front, a 12-mile chain-link fence with cameras, alarms, and motion detectors has been built to surround the site. Visitors will also now enter the site through a new building featuring x-ray machines, metal detectors, and 199 cameras.

In countries were the biggest industry is tourism, I don't have a big problem wading through vendors if they aren't overly pushy or get into my photographs. While I think Egypt's decision to curb vendors is the right one (and the country is known to have some pushy ones), I also don't want to see people lose their livelihood.

The increased security precautions should also be applauded, and when I was there, security was already very tight. In Cairo and the surrounding areas, our small group was accompanied by a guard with a machine gun. While that my scare of some, it made me feel safer, and the guard was also a great guy, who everyone in the group connected with.

As always, for more on Egypt's pyramids check out the section on my website. Also leave your thoughts on this topic in the comment section and check out the above-linked USA Today article.

Chichen Itza-Cancun: A World Wonder-Beach Combo

The Valley Independent recently took a look at traveling to Cancun and Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza was the first wonder I ever visited, way back in 1991 when I was a freshman in high school. The highlight was being able to climb the Pyramid of Kukulcan, also known as El Castillo. Unfortunately, visitors are no longer able to climb the steps of the large temple.

Chichen Itza has the luxury of being only a two-hour drive away from Cancun. Nothing ties a vacation together more than being able to split it between visiting a world wonder and a beach resort. It's a nice balance.

Of course, Chichen Itza-Cancun isn't the only World Wonder-beach combo out there. The Parthenon-Santorini is another awesome combo, while Angkor Wat (Cambodia)-Phuket, Thailand is also a top option. Visitors to Egypt's many great monuments can also relax by one of its many resorts by the Red Sea. For more on any of the world wonders, check out my corresponding website.

Dangerous Travel Destinations

The USA Today recently took a look at dangerous travel destinations, including Iraq, North Korea, and Afghanistan. While none of the destinations have any sites that would top my list to visit (unless Babylon was significantly restored), a fourth destination not listed in the article, Iran, has some more tempting options. Unfortunately, it's not a place that is likely to see too many Western tourists.

However, armchair travelers can get a glimpse of Iran and Persepolis in this month's National Geographic print and online editions. Persepolis looks like a pretty amazing site with a rich history. The Persian Empire was one of the greatest of antiquity, but, at least in the U.S., it seems more known for its failed attempt to conquer Greece after the Battle of Thermopylae or as one of Alexander the Great's conquests.

Travelers interested in ancient Middle East history can also check out the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. The museum houses a number of large, impressive objects, including the famed Ishtar Gate of Babylon. It's also a lot safer than visiting the replica currently constructed at the site of Babylon in modern-day Iraq. For now, armchair travelers should check out both the USA Today and National Geographic articles.

What to Do Following the Trip

The Star-Telegram had an interesting article on Friday about preserving memories after you return from your travels. Creating a blog or website wasn't among the suggestions, but I think it's another good idea.

The article gives a small list of dos and don't to incorporate mementos from you trip into your everyday life. I personally enlarge a few photos I've taken of the top sites I've visited and have them professionally framed. I then hang them up throughout the house. My wife creates scrapbooks with pictures and other mementos, such as admittance tickets.

Anyway check out the article, it has some good ideas to help you re-live some great experiences.