Lonely Planet : Lost Incan City of Machu Picchu

Peru is celebrating 100 years since the rediscovery of Machu Picchu by Yale professor Hiram Bingham III. On July 24, 1911, the American, who some believe was later the “model” for Indiana Jones, stumbled upon jungle-and-vine-coated ruins during an expedition to find an ancient Inca Empire in the Andes mountains. Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. In 2007, it was crowned as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World via a worldwide Internet vote. To mark the Machu Picchu centennial celebration, here is a collection of pictures from the “Lost City of the Incas.” ...

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Posted in: Peru

Lonely Planet : Teotihuacán

Teotihuacán was the largest urban center in pre-Columbian America and, in the hey-day of its existence, one of the three largest cities in the world, rivaling Rome in Europe and Beijing in Asia. It is located in the Valley of Mexico, a highland basin on the Mexican plateau which was centered on a large, shallow lake known as the "Lake of the Moon", about 50 km (30 miles) northeast of modern Mexico City. The city was founded about 150 B.C. by refugees from the ancient "Olmec" ceremonial center of Cuicuilco, which lay near the southwestern edge of the lake. An eruption of the volcano Xitle had sent the residents of Cuicuilco fleeing around the lake to the northeast, where they laid out their new metropolis according to a meticulously...

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Posted in: Mexico

Lonely Planet : Koh Samui and Koh Phangan

Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are islands on the east side of Thailand which are popular with both vacationers and backpackers. The islands are known for their palm tree lined white sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters and laid back attitudes. On Koh Phangan you’ll find also plenty of bohemian style bars and cafes and of course the world-famous full moon parties. Nearby, the islands of Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan are much less touristy due to their more isolated locations and are perfect for those looking for peace and world-class snorkelling and diving. ...

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Posted in: Thailand

Lonely Planet : Karnak Temple Complex

Karnak Temple Complex in Egypt In the ancient city of Thebes, the sprawling Temple of Karnak covers more than 200 acres. Often referred to as a temple, don't misunderstand this term to mean anything in the singular. The Temple of Karnak is actually a complex of temples as well as other monumental and religious buildings situated near the Nile River close to the modern city of Luxor, which was built on the site of the ancient Thebes. The Karnak Temple is unique not only among Egyptian temples, but also among religious sites throughout the world as it is the largest ancient religious site in the world, also often considered the largest open-air museum in the world. Unlike many Egyptian temples, Karnak was not constructed by a single pharaoh...

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Posted in: Egypt