14 sites and sights that impressed me the most

Whenever I go through my photo archives from the past five years, it is a bit overwhelming. We did and saw so much!

Making all the list posts for Curly Traveller’s Blogiversary was therefor quite hard; very difficult to choose.

Thinking about sites and sights that made a big impression on me, I came up with the following list:

1. Rajasthan, India

OK, technically Rajasthan is neither a site nor a sight, it is a whole state. But … it’s a state filled with spectacular sights and sites. That’s why I decided to include it in this list.

My relationship with India is one of love-hate. That certainly goes for Rajasthan.

What I learned about it’s cultures and habits, specifically regarding the position of women, is harsh and awful. Life in Rajasthan seems tough, for all living creatures for that matter.

On the other hand there is this intense beauty all around. The landscape, the architecture, the heritage and the colorful people. Nowhere I saw such vibrant colors as in Rajasthan; breathtaking!

And nowhere I saw such fabulous palaces. I found Udaipur Palace the most beautiful one of all that I visited.

Cities like Jaipur and Udaipur are not to be missed!

2. Bangkok’s palaces and temples, Thailand

The beauty, grandeur and number of Bangkok’s palaces and temples is unbelievable.

The Grand Palace is fabulous and totally overwhelming. As are the temples Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho.

And these are just the most famous ones; Bangkok has 400 wats (=temples) !!!

3. Nek Chand Rock Garden, Chandigarh, India

This place is also on my list of amazing outsider art places, so I will not elaborate here. But I love it!

4. Marina Bay Area, Singapore

I lived here for four years. Nowadays I go back regularly for a stroll or a drink.

The atmosphere is wonderful here. Beautiful architecture, a light breeze, very spacious pedestrian area, spots for relaxing and ‘hanging’ all around the bay and always something going on.

Also great for people watching. Never a dull moment, yet never really crowded.

When I say ‘Marina Bay Area’, for me that includes the wonderful new Gardens by the Bay.

5. Chatuchak Market, Bangkok, Thailand

A shopper’s paradise, semi-al-fresco. Even if you buy nothing, it’s very entertaining to stroll over this endless market.

I did buy ‘some’ things…hahaha…like a zillion small voodoo dolls. Super cool!

6. Haw Par Villa, Singapore

Another place from my list of amazing outsider art places. Usually almost deserted and no entry fee. I have been there 5 to 10 times by now, and I enjoy it again and again.

7. The Backwaters of Kerala, India

Sitting in a long, narrow canoe, watching the landscape slide by slowly. Vast waters with tiny canals. 50 Shades of green all around you. Quiet. Peaceful. Paradise.

8. Trick Eye Museum, Seoul

A totally unpretentious, fun place. We had a blast there and love how our pictures turned out.

Singapore recently opened it’s own Trick Eye Museum, but like with everything new in Singapore, the waiting time is crazy long, even up to 5 hours!!My advice: wait a bit, until the ‘new’ is worn of and till the holidays are over.

So glad we saw it in Seoul, where we could just walk in. No queues, no fuss.

9. SOMA Olympic Sculpture Garden, Seoul

This huge park with hundreds of sculptures is lovely and very interesting!

10. 10.000 Buddha’s Monastery, Hong Kong

I could not believe what I saw, when we went there. Climbing -seemingly endless- stairs, we were greeted by hundreds, no thousands, of gold-painted buddha’s.

At the end of the stairs, the views were great.

11. Batu Caves, Kualu Lumpur, Malaysia

A temple in some caves, lots of steps, cheeky monkeys and gigantic statues. What a unique place!
The yearly Thaipusam parade leads here and that must be an enormous spectacle in this environment. It’s probably also totally chaotic and overwhelming, so I am happy to observe Thaipusam in Singapore instead. Very safe and organized;-).

12. Kek Lok Si temple, Penang

There is so much to see in this enormous temple complex. You can easily spend several hours here, going from one room to another and from one level to the next. Very interesting.

13. Tin Hau Temple, Repulse Bay, Hong Kong, China

We stumbled upon this temple by accident, during a visit to Repulse Bay and I was swept of my feet. The location, on the beach, overlooking the sea, and the ginormous statues and mosaics are just great!

14. Shamian Island, Guangzhou, China

I spent a whole afternoon on this island in Guangzhou, people-watching.

This teeny tiny neighborhood has a unique character due to three elements:
-colonial architecture
-china’s centre of adoption (foreigners adopting chinese children)
-Guangzhou’s favorite backdrop for bridal photo shoots

If ever you are in Guangzhou and have some hours to kill, I recommend you go to the Starbucks at Shamian Island, buy yourself a cuppa, sit on one of the benches in the park in front of the Starbucks and just watch. You’ll not be bored!

Which three sites will you never forget? Did you visit any of the ones above?

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