Asia

In Asia, I would love to see the Great Wall of China and Angkor Wat because of their mysterious and ancient elements. Both of these monuments are huge and built thousands of years ago. Ancient temples, like the Hagia Sophia mosque and Taj Mahal are beautiful pieces of, in my opinion, art. They are both extremely unique to there time period.

The Great Wall, Beijing Province China

The Great Wall has captured the imagination of people worldwide through its history. It is said to be the only man made structure to be soon from the moon, was built over a period of 2,000 years. It served as a defense against marauding nomadic tribes from the North. Over a million workers - peasants, soldiers, and prisoners - were involved in the construction.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat was the capital of the Khmer Empire from 800 A.D. to approximately 1200, and was abandoned in 1431. Now Angkor Wat's temples and monuments are once again open to travelers. Angkor Wat is a temple built at the beginning of the 12th Century by Kind Suryavarman II. When it was discovered again in 1860 deep in the jungle. It was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, and is embellished with statues, carving, and bas-reliefs of scenes from Hindu mythology.

The Taj Mahal, Agra India

The Taj Mahal is considered the finest example of Mughal Architecture, a style that combines elements of Persian, Islamic, and Indian architectural styles. The Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as the jewel of Muslim art in Indiana and one of the most universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul Turkey

The Hagia Sophia mosque has been a personal favorite of mine since I was first introduced the the mosque and Byzantine architecture. The mosque was the first place to create a dome with windows, which creates the beautiful display of light which is seen in this photo. It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years. It has served as a mosque, church, and is currently a museum.