Edit: lol yeah, I deserve this, I teed it up rather magnificently.
Angkor Wat is very cool, remarkably well preserved, beautiful and a huge area of ornately carved buildings and a palace to walk around in.
I’ve wanted to go there ever since I played Illusion of Gaia.
you will not be disappointed, all the images are clear enough that you can still read the polytheistic graphic history that they carved into the Palace walls.
and there’s one main Palace, but like the Palace area extends away further and there’s almost zero people who go to the ancillary buildings which also have really cool carvings and are basically pristine.
Back in the late 90s, in the CA East Bay, one of my family’s neighbors was a big shot (director or something, can’t recall) at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility (at the time, it was still called the NOVA laser, I think). My dad got this guy to give us a behind the scenes tour (including clean suit sections) of the complex, including the target chamber where they did inertial confinement fusion experiments (read: shot really fucking powerful lasers with support machinery the size of several contiguous Costcos smashed together at a tiny little gold cylinder with tritium suspended in it), and I got to stick my head in the inspection port.
It was super awesome, and one of the things I credit for making me go down the STEM track in the first place. Also, this was pre-9/11, and in the “peace dividend” era, and I’m fairly certain there’s precisely zero chance a random neighbor kid would be allowed backstage like that in such a sensitive (technically, as well as national security) area these days.
Also, I got to wave at the normie tour group from the other side of the tour glass while in part of the laser hall with our clean suits lol
That’s like beyond super duper cool!
I mean just to put on a clean suit would be rad, but to then go behind the scenes to places no one else goes!? FUCK YEAH!
Then holy crab on a crutch you saw normies behind glass? Just where those poor, unconnected plebes belong! 😬
I’d have been shocked if you mentioned, “…and then I worked at McDonald’s for three decades,” instead of the tour inspiring you to go STEM!
How Could It Not!?
Thanks for sharing. ❤️
Based on size? Spaceship Earth in EPCOT Center.
On a more personal scale, a lighthouse.
gives OP a hug It’s okay, they mean well.
West Kennet Long Barrow is a Neolithic barrow over 5,500 years old. It’s part of the numerous neolithic structures in Wiltshire, UK (which includes the frankly far less impressive but more famous Stonehenge).
Going inside it is a very odd feeling. You can see and touch ancient work marks put there by people who are so remote to us we know very little about them. I’ve visited numerous ancient world heritage sites and its unique (to me) in how close you feel to those people.
Submarines are pretty cool. I toured a WWII-era submarine and there are still lots of manual valves and controls. It’s impressive that they worked so well.
Those are crazy small. I can’t imagine being stuck on one for any amount of time.
I also toured a heavy cruiser and battleship: at least you could stay sane on one of those
The Blue Grotto in Capri, or maybe some of the less famous grottos on the Mediterranean Coast. There is something so terrifying about being surrounded by rock formations, I’m not typically a claustrophobic person, but felt a visceral fear of being under that much rock with waves moving in and out of the cave. And yet the grotto is gorgeous because of the reflection of the light. The endless dark of the cave is lit by the most brilliant blue of the water.
I like to imagine the person who first discovers something like that, having to overcome the fear of the unknown and be rewarded with the best mother nature has to offer.
I’ve been in one, too. I’m not fond of tight spaces either, but that didn’t seem bad. I really dislike boats and water, too, but it was still nice. Beautiful places.
Your mom!
But seriously, a pyramid at Giza. Pretty warm in there after 3500 years in the sun.
Hey, watch your shit ;)
The Cologne Cathedral.
It took 500 years to build it.
That is so many generations. Imagine you are just the 4. architect. Your great grandfather has started it, but you did not know this man. Somehow the plans have been passed down to you, but of course there were changes… Somebody after you is going to finish it. You do not know how it’s going to look in the end, because there will be more changes later. If they will be able to finish it at all…
Nice
Must be kinda frustrating to be the second generation or something. You didn’t start it, and you’ll never see it to be finished, not even close. You’re just kinda there.
You might not see it as clearly, but that’s our role in society as well
I think Americans are having a vote like that right now: spend continually either on the climate to see a change in 200 years, or on rich people.
Taj mahal, Grand canyon, and those spinning things at the carnival that look like a UFO
There are many questionable practices in museum work, and of course the Lourve might be the one of the worst when it comes to that. But I have never been to place with sooooo many well preserved sculptures with super thorough explanations. I LOVE sculpture, especially the ones made with less than forgivable media for making mistakes. The Three Graces is absolutely captivating.
I’ve been inside a giant red wood. With a car.
I’ve been through one in a car, I’ve climbed inside a rotted out one that was still standing as well. They’re scary how fucking big they are.
Borobudur Temple
That’s in eastern Java right? If what I’m thinking of it looks incredible and I was close but didn’t make it
Yes, that’s the one!
The Scott Monument, it’s a gothic religious looking building in Edinburgh, but it’s dedicated to the writer Sir Walter Scott.
I’ve climbed up too. I’m a…chunky…lad, so those last few steps got my heart rate up a bit. Had visions of getting stuck, and a guide having to send a few kids down to clear the blockage.
Hell of a view from the top though.
An ancient Buddhist temple in Kyoto. I don’t recall its name without looking it up… But it was much less crowded than most of the other temples and shrines in the area.
Kyoto’s dope. Tons of history, and great food!
Absolutely one of the most beautiful cities in the world, which unfortunately has led to a lot of over tourism. I hope they can get it handled better so that the city isn’t completely overrun by them/us.
I think just letting the Chinese tourists know that there are places in Japan that also have gorgeous, ancient shrines and temples and buildings might help to spread the tourism out. I don’t mean that as a dig against the Chinese; Kyoto is a very accessible and beautiful place to visit flying out of Beijing or Shanghai, so naturally Chinese tourists congregate there more than people from other places do. Go to one of the bigger shrines or temples in the area, and almost everybody around you will be Chinese. Got to send some to Nara! So close to Kyoto and so rich in history.
The liminal stages around Taj Mahal
