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.

Petra Sees Rise in Tourism

Petra saw a big rise in tourism through the first half of this year, according to a report from the Central Bank of Jordan. The World Wonder attracted 60% more visitors during the first half of 2008 compared to last year. In total, 404,161 tourists visited the city in 2008 versus 252,215 during the same period last year.

Europeans helped lead the tourism boom, with 157,284 Europeans visiting the country on package tours through the end of June, a 63% increase from last year. Tourists from Asia on package tours numbered 37,900, up 40% from 27,094 last year. The biggest percentage gain was from U.S. tourists, with an 84% surge to about 32,000.

It's good to see Petra getting some of the recognition it deserves, and its inclusion on the New Seven Wonders of the World list (technically it has 8 wonders) last July is undoubtedly helping increase tourism to the site. While the inflow of tourism from the U.S. shot up, it still appears there is some trepidation by many American to travel to the Middle East, which is a shame. For more on the red-rose city, check out the Petra section on my website.

Inside the Forbidden City

The Today Show continued its broadcasts from China this morning, with Matt Lauer visiting the Forbidden City during the show's first hour. The largest surviving palace complex in the world, it will be on the World's Top Wonders website when it is expanded to 20 manmade wonders -- hopefully before the end of summer. While not officially attached to the website yet, the Forbidden City page can be previewed here.

The best part of Lauer's visit to the Forbidden City was his tour of rooms currently off limits to tourists, including the emperor's private theater. The room, which has recently been restored, is certainly worth the price of admission, and different from any other room in the palace. The room is actually decorated with Western style murals on the walls and ceiling with a summer theme.

Check out the video here, it's well worth it. Fortunately for tourists planning to visit the Forbidden City next year, the room will be opened to the public at the end of this year.

Today Show Broadcasts from the Great Wall

Matt Lauer broadcasted live from the Badaling section of the Great Wall for this morning's airing of the Today Show. Of course with the time difference, it was nighttime in China. The Great Wall makes a great visual backdrop for a broadcast, but the Badaling section still resembles the Disney version of the Wall to me given its heavy restoration using new bricks to built and enhance it.

One of the most interesting segments of the broadcast was myth busting with Great Wall historian David Spindler. Some of the myths and facts revealed during the segment included:

Myth: The Great Wall can be seen from the moon.
Fact: No, it is way too far away.

Myth: The Great Wall can be seen from the space shuttle.
Fact: Yes, it can be seen from an inner earth orbit if you know where you are looking.

Myth: During the building of the Wall, when workers died they were buried inside it.
Fact: There is no textual or archaeological evidence of this happening.
Myth: The Great Wall is one continuous wall.
Fact: False, there are numerous walls that make up the Great Wall.

Myth: The Great Wall was a failure at keeping enemies out.
Fact: The Wall acted as a great defense barrier when the army was prepared and knew where the enemy was attacking.

The LA Times also had a good article on the Great Wall over the weekend worth checking out. With the opening ceremony of the Olympics set for later this week, expect more newspaper coverage of this monument that lives up to its name. For more info, check out the Great Wall section of my website.

An Affinity for Abu Simbel

Last week, Kentucky newspaper the Lexington Herald ran a travel story on Egypt featuring the writer's adventure with Abercrombie Kent. While most travel writers identify the Great Pyramid as their favorite attraction , contributing travel writer Patti Nickell seemed to have more of an affinity for Abu Simbel.

When I was in Egypt, I have to say Abu Simbel was definitely one of my favorite sites as well. While most travelers take a quick flight to the site and just spend a few hours there, I would recommend taking the trip by road via caravan. My wife and I visited the temple shortly after we arrived and had the site virtually to ourselves. Also the light show at night is the best in Egypt, and a dip by the pool near Lake Nassar can be refreshing after a long, action-packed trip. For more on Abu Simbel, check out the page dedicated to this World Wonder on my website.

While I enjoyed the article from the Herald, I do have to point out one glaring factual error in it. Nickell writes, "thousands of slaves were sacrificed in the building of the [pyramids]." The evidence just does not support this, and modern archaeologists now believe conscripts did all the work. It also appears the pyramid builders were paid and treated relatively well, although the work was obviously backbreaking and many people did get injured and/or died in the process. For more info on the pyramids, check out the Egyptian Pyramids section on my website.

Another part of the article I thought was interesting was how the Abercrombie & Kent guide didn't accompany the tour group into the Great Pyramid. For the money A&K charges, I would have expected more. While A&K has a great reputation, I think you can find cheaper tours that deliver a similar of better experience.

In fact on the tour I went on, our small group got to spend three hours with full access to all the chambers in the Great Pyramid (including the pit and Queens Chamber which are normally closed off); we were allowed to go right up and touch the Great Sphinx (which the average tourist isn't allowed to do); and we went to a lot of amazing and important places that are much less frequented, such as the pyramids at Dashur and temple at Abydos. We were also leaving most spots just when the big tour buses were pulling up. This was all for less money than A&K mind you, and our guide went into the Great Pyramid with us, although she did sit out the tougher Red Pyramid at Dashur.

Hiking the Great Wall

The Dallas Morning News today took a look at a six-day walking tour of the Great Wall offered by a Canadian-based tour company called World Expedition. The hike includes the popular Mutianyu section as well as the less-visited Simatai section. In between hiking, you get to visit local families. The tour looks like a fun, unique experience.

Along with Machu Picchu, the Great Wall is one of the best world wonders for hikers. Of course, both can be enjoyed by less physically fit travelers, but there is a certain sense of accomplishment that goes along with these more adventurous endeavors.

Having been to the Simatai section of the Great Wall in May, I have to say it's pretty magnificent how it clings to the mountain slopes. The fact that it's only modestly restored and not teeming with other tourists are two other big pluses. While I was thinking of doing the trek to the Jinshanling section, I decided against, instead traversing the steep eastern section of the wall – still a very exhilarating experience. While this is a great section to visit, it's best for physically travelers who aren't afraid of heights. You can take a ski lift half way up to reach the Wall, but you'll have to work for the rest of it.

With the Olympics coming up, there's sure to be plenty more articles out there on the Great Wall and other Chinese wonders that I'll cover. For now, take a look at the Great Wall section of my website.