#24 - Taj Mahal and Rajhasthan, India

The Taj Mahal is a beautiful and unique site, although it is overpromoted and in Agra, a city of petty criminals. It can be visited in a day in a quick trip by train from Delhi. Checkout Fatehpur Sikri nearby where the Taj creator was imprisoned by son, and has a great view of the site. There have been a number of great, and less common, photos taken in the water behind the Taj Mahal.


The state of Rajasthan on the other hand is the true India experience. There are centuries-old palaces and forts, lavish color everywhere, wonderful food and a culture that celebrates much. The city of Udaipur within Rajasthan was a princely state that was never taken over by the British and became an artist haven, and that is strongly reflected today.

The best time to visit is in the winter and one could easily spend several months in India and never be bored.


Udaipur has several centuries old palaces, and this is one of hundreds of antique windows at Shiv Nivas Palace on Lake Pichola.

Best Time to Go: North American winter
How Long to Stay: 2 weeks - 1 day at the Taj and 2 weeks in Rajhasthan
General Costs: Medium to low
What To Do: Quickly visit the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort in Agra by train, Udaipur palaces, Jaipur city, Jaisalmer forts, Jodhpur forts and history
UNESCO World Heritage Site? Yes for Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri
Weather: Hot to very hot
Language: Hindi, English, Dialects

#20 - Borobodur and Prambanan - Java, Indonesia

The island of Java in Indonesia is home to two of the largest brick monuments outside of the Pyramids. Prambanan (above) near Yogyakarta, is a Hindu temple built around 850 AD, with 224 shrines dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

Borobudur is the more spectacular site and one of the largest monuments in the world with 1,400 Buddhas in eight foot stone bells. It was built originally as a sort of Buddhist Mecca around 750 AD. Both sites have been destroyed by earthquakes and completely rebuilt several times. Spend the afternoon here as the views and the energy are great.

You can easily see both on a great one day trip from Bali flying Denpasar to Yogyakarta on eastern Java.

Best Time to Go: April to October during the dry season, when the humidity is lower

How Long to Stay: 1-2 days

General Costs: Medium because of airfare to the island

What To Do: Visit Prambanan and Borobodur, Stay for a night in Yogyakarta
UNESCO World Heritage Site? Yes - both Prambanan and Borobodur are on the list
Weather: Hot and humid
Language: Javanese

#18 - The Buddhist Temples of Tibet

The Potala Palace in Lhasa (above) was the Dalai Lama's 1,500 room winter palace prior to Tibet being invaded by the Chinese in 1959. While it is really tragic and sad to see the Chinese presence all over Tibet, it is still a very unique and beautiful place. You could spend weeks just visiting monasteries and other Buddhist sites, especially those like the renowned Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa. You can only imagine what Tibet must have looked like before the Chinese blew up over 6,000 Buddhist monasteries.

Novices undergo many years of rigorous training with aggressive verbal testing by more senior monks.

The people of Tibet are among the kindest you will ever meet, and their faces and lives are so photogenic. Buddhist countries are among our favorites because the cultures and people are so interesting, and they are always very safe.

People walk to Lhasa from all over Tibet for pilgrimages. This man above was a pilgrim from Amdo province and had walked hundreds of miles.


The old woman cooked for many years for the hundred monks at Gonkar Monastery, near the airport. It is an hour and a half from Lhasa and makes a great first stop after arriving. Soft window light like this is usually the best way to photograph people.

A grandfather prays with his grandson by spinning the Buddhist prayer wheel at Johkang Monastery. A forty foot long Buddhist text is wound up tightly inside the prayer wheel and each spin is like saying a prayer. The musky smell of a thousand yak butter candles burning permeated the air on the first floor.

Best Time to Go: Summer when it is warmer, as you can see your breath in some Lhasa hotels after October

How Long to Stay: 7-14 days as there is so much to do and see

General Costs: Medium to High

What To Do: Visit the Buddhist monasteries and sites, Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery, make sure you grab a yak burger at the Hard Yak Cafe while in Lhasa.
UNESCO World Heritage Site? Yes - The Potala Palace
Weather: Mild to cool in the summers and very cold for about 8 months of the year
Language: Tibetan