Kinkaku-Ji, also known as The Temple of the Golden Pavilion is one of Japan's most visited historic sites. Originally built in the Shogun era in 1397, this ancient temple has remained an important Zen Buddhist temple for the past 600 years. However, due to an accident by a monk in the mid 1950's, the temple was burned to the ground. It has since been rebuilt with efforts to be an identical replica of the original, though critics may argue about minor details which were not mirrored perfectly. The temple remains a beautiful site to visit, in a very peaceful setting surrounded by forest and a large pond teaming with coy and other fish. Definitely worth a visit when travelling through Kyoto.
 
There are many ways you can choose to appreciate what is considered one of the most holiest rivers in the world. Activities which take place along the river banks include bathing to purify oneself before the daily happenings begin, participate in Ganga Aarti - the nightly act of placing candles with flowers in the river (as pictured above) as part of the worship, or  attending one of the hundreds of festivals such as Kumbh Mela held every 4 years, a Sadu festival where millions make pilgrimage to bathe in the river and partake in Ganga Aarti - meaning you will see the river appear as if it were lit on fire as millions of candles float past. 

Many children use this opportunity to make some extra money for their family, by selling the candles and flowers to locals and tourists alike. It is an excellent source of income for their families, and keeps the children from begging and stealing. If you choose to participate, you may want to consider buying from one of the children, as opposed to the shops (which may be overpriced anyway). 

The Ganges river is a quintessential part of anyone's visit to India. There is definitely a special feeling from being there, even if you don't participate in any of the blessings of the river.
 
The Valleys of the Kings and Queens are both located a short felluca ride across the Nile from the city of Luxor, Egypt. This is where the Royal family members had their mummified bodies enclosed in sarcophaguses, with the stories of their lives and their dynasties inscribed on the walls leading down to their final resting place. It is a place of incredible sacred significance, for Egyptians, historians and archeologists alike. 

Pictured above is the tomb of king Ramses IV. His tomb is one of the most well preserved in all the valley, as it was not found by tomb raiders over the past centuries. Most artifacts have been relocated to museums by the Egyptian government, though the paint on the walls and the tomb still have a preserved fresh appearance as if they were done yesterday (don't worry, it's authentic). 

*Please Note: You will not be allowed to take flash photography in this tomb, as the brightness of the flash can cause the paint to fade. That would be a real bummer, after 2000 years of preservation, to have a few flashes ruin it for visitors in the next 2000!
 
One of the most sought after ruins for explorers of the beautiful planet, Machu Picchu is nestled high in the mountains of the Urubamba Valley in Peru. There are several methods in which one can get here, the most popular of which is the 4 day hike up the Inca Trail. It is a difficult hike, even with the assistance of porters, and over the past decade has become increasingly popular. With the increased popularity, the government had to restrict the number of people (including porters) who could enter the trail at any one time to a mere 500 to aid in preserving this heritage site! Yup, that means a total of 2000 on the trail on any given day... and this is with the imposed restriction. It is advised to buy your permits several months before planning on going, as they do sell out quite far in advance. If they do sell out, or you just don't feel like doing a 4 day hike uphill, another option is taking a train to the base of the mountain, and then a shuttle bus up switchbacks to the entrance of the ruins. This is a good, fast alternative for many people. 

Whichever way you choose to get there, the prize at the top of the mountain is still the same. Machu Picchu is truly one of the most incredible, and mystical ruins I've ever encountered.
 
Victoria Falls outlines the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, along the Zambezi River. It is amongst the largest waterfalls in the world, and creates an immense thunderous sound when near. The view is best from the Zambian side, as you can face the falls directly, as seen above in this photo. When close, the mist from the falls is so great, it will cause sheets of water to collect and crash down almost as if in a rain downpour which continuously starts and stops again. Rainbows are commonplace here, and make for some wonderful photo ops as well. At the bottom of the falls, are some of the greatest rapids in the world, which makes for an incredible white water rafting experience. Please note, however, that if in rainy season, the water coming over the falls may be too powerful for the rafting.
 
No visit to the Serengeti would be complete without a day trip down to the Ngorogoro Crater. It is a Mecca of wildlife. Like a magical paradise where almost all animals from the Serengeti come to feed (except Giraffes.. they can't navigate down the steep slopes). One of the animals found here in the most impressive numbers is the pink flamingo, which fill the three soda lakes found within the crater. Truly a spectacle in itself, and one of the few places in the Serengeti you will see them in these numbers.
 
Varkala is a beautiful seaside city located in India's southern state of Kerala. It has some unique characteristics, such as the towering red-rock cliffs which face the Arabian sea, along the otherwise flat coast of Kerala. In addition to this, there are two distinct areas of the city. The one found inland is primarily hindu, with a large number of temples to be explored, and the other is a small touristy part of town which appears to be run entirely by an impressively large number of Tibetans living here. Being so far removed from Tibet, one may be thrown off at first if not expecting this. It brings a welcome diversity in food, culture and handicrafts available, along with the notoriously friendly Tibetan smiles as you stroll along the coast. 
 
One of London, England's most iconic land marks, Piccadilly Circus bares a similar significance as Time Square doess to New York City. Not actually a circus, the word is derived from the Latin word, meaning circle. This is common nomenclature for circular wide open spaces in shopping districts (Time 'Square', Piccadilly 'Circus'.... get it?). Dating back to the early 1800's, this junction has played a major role in the city's shopping and entertainment industries for almost 2 centuries now. It has also, in it's own right, become a popular meeting place and tourist attraction - sometimes even a meeting point for tourists! Definitely worth checking out if in the area.
 
Around the times of dusk and dawn, the shores of Lake Malawi become scattered with farmers, fishermen and other locals strolling along the water's edge, enjoying the beautiful hues the sun casts out. It's a perfect way to unwind after a long day for both locals and visitors alike. This shot was taken on Kandi Beach, which is an area full of campsites and hotels, all found along the waterfront of one of the world's biggest lakes. Definitely worth stop along your journeys. 
 
One thing I found most delightful about the children in Tanzania, was their enthusiastic effort to come say hello to foreigners. Sometimes it would be as simple as a wave, or smile, other times it would be running and screaming "Hello Mister!! How are you? How are you?". The genuine friendliness that stems from many of these children is something much of the world could take lessons on. It's purity and innocence is unparalleled.