I caught the travel bug early on in life. Growing up, my parents used to load us up into the car for spontaneous road trips to the beach, out into West Texas, or sometimes just to a place close to our home in Austin, but far enough that it felt like a new, different experience. From then on, I was hooked.

I spent most of my college years studying abroad. My degree states that I went to TCU in Fort Worth Texas, but I feel like the majority of my education was spent at various institutions abroad. In fact, I’d say that over half of my degree was comprised of study abroad programs. Needless to say, when I finally graduated my days of study abroad were over. Desperate to find a way to continue traveling, I announced to friends and family that the year of 2005 would be Andrea’s Year of Solo Travels. My parents agreed to my proposal because I was an adult now with a college degree under my belt and could make these kinds of decisions if I wanted to. However, they also stipulated that if this is what I wanted to do, I would have to fund it myself. Because I was an adult now.

So, I started saving up every penny I earned at my job as a museum gallery attendant. I knew this was not going to be enough to support me for a whole year of travels, but it would be enough to get me going. Meanwhile I began looking for ways I could make money while traveling.

I found many options, some turned out to be great while others not all they were cracked up to be. In the end, the best way I found to support myself, and the one which funded most of my travels that year, was becoming an Au Pair.

I had spent much of my youth babysitting and continued to babysit on the side whenever I needed extra cash. So, while looking for jobs abroad, I naturally gravitated towards childcare. I had heard that being an Au Pair, which is pretty much synonymous to a nanny, was a great way to immerse yourself into a different culture and also a great way to earn money. Families that hire Au Pairs are looking for help with childcare, but also would like to have a cultural exchange between their children and you. A lot of families want to hire English speaking Au Pairs to help their children learn English, so if you happen to speak it as your native language that is a plus.

I began my Au Pair experience by joining a couple of placement websites. At the time, the two most popular were GreatAuPairs.com and Nannyjob.co.uk. I set up my profile upon registering for each of them. The profile included information like childcare experience, age, country of origin, some references (I got mine from people I for whom I had babysat) and a photo or two.

It took a couple of weeks until I started hearing from potential families. I started getting many requests and by the end of the week I had the option of choosing which family sounded like the right fit for me. Some families wanted an Au Pair semi-permanently, others wanted one for a specific period of time, usually over summer vacation. I was able to arrange my Au Pair experiences so that I did one for 2 months then had 2 weeks off to travel around before my next Au Pair experience began, which lasted 3 months.It is also important to work out your schedule with the family you chose before you arrive. Many families will work out arrangements such as working with the children from 8-4, Monday through Friday then you may have the evenings off and weekends. Or, if you are lucky, some families really want you to experience the place where they live and will give you ample time off each day and on weekends to explore. Just make sure you know what kind of working schedule you are signing up for.

My first experience was in a tiny town (TINY!) outside of Liege, Belgium. It was beautiful there and I really enjoyed going on hikes around the village and in the country. The family lived in an tiny, old farmhouse and it was just the dad and his two kids. They had a garden of fresh herbs and vegetables in the backyard and collected eggs from a chicken coop. They made every meal from scratch. It was a quaint, idyllic situation.

However, the hours that I had agreed to started to feel like a lot. Unfortunately, this was my very first Au Pair experience so I didn’t do a good job of making sure the hours worked for me beforehand (hence my advice of arranging this ahead of time). I wound up waking up at the crack of dawn, doing general cleaning duties, preparing breakfast for the kids, taking the kids to school (while also learning how to drive a stick shift), working the garden, preparing lunch, picking the kids up from school, having lunch, taking them back to school, practicing my French so I could speak to the baker about what kind of bread we needed, free time activity of my choice, picking the kids back up at school (did I mention they went to two different schools?) having English lessons, going to do some kind of outdoor activity, getting dinner ready, preparing for bed, then finding my way to my bedroom so that I could crash. This experience was difficult for me, perhaps not for others who are full time nannies already. I enjoyed very much my free time activities, which mainly included going for hikes in the scenic countryside, but the work was exhausting. I left this experience wanting to feel a little more prepared for my next. I spent the next two weeks traveling, but mostly traveling for the sake of relaxation.

My next experience was so different from the first. The family for whom I worked was amazing from the get go. They had three children and were on summer vacation at their beach home in Italy (a coastal resort town near Venice). My duties were 4 hours a day with the kids then the rest of it was my own free time. Weekends I also had off. I got along so well with this family, that most of my free time was just spent with them anyway. The only cleaning duty I had was making the beds and I didn’t have to cook meals, unless I chose to. I ended up introducing them to fajitas, tacos and salsa (didn’t taste quite as authentic since I only had Italian ingredients to cook with, but they still got the point). I introduced the mom to margaritas, which she ended up liking a little too much! Did I mention this was their beach home? So, my four hours a day consisted of taking the kids to the beach or the pool or both. I have no complaints about getting paid to go hang out at a beach or pool. Plus the kids were the sweetest in the world. By the end of our time together we were crying as we said our goodbyes. I came back a few years later to pay them a visit and it was just like visiting family. I still keep in touch with them to this day and hope to visit them again soon.

Me with two of the children I took care of in Italy

The benefits of Au Pairing are many. Getting to immerse yourself in a new culture, learning a new language, sharing your own language and culture, making new friends, becoming part of a family, not having to pay for room or board and getting paid well. Most all of the money you make there is saved. I used the money I made in each experience to support me for the rest of my travels. The pay is usually not tremendous (I was paid between $150 – $200 Euros per week, but sometimes got more if I did anything above the agreed upon work schedule). It doesn’t sound like a lot, but if you figure in that you will not pay for anything else and will save all that, it adds up quickly.

There are now several more websites that offer assistance in placement for Au Pairs. (I recently discovered a placement service through STA Travel). If you are interested in this type of experience I highly recommend researching placement sites, getting your profile set up and going for it! If you are wanting to do long term travel, it is a great way to break up your travels with a steady form of pay as well as room and board. As long as you are good with kids and don’t mind giving up a little bit of privacy and independence in the short term (you are living with the family after all) it’s the perfect way to finance your journey.

Post by Andrea Hempel

www.teachingloveandlearning.blogspot.com

So you want to go to New Zealand? Here are a few pro tips.

1. Get a Working Holiday Visa.

Get the most out of your expensive flight to NZ by having an extended stay in the country. The NZ Working Holiday Visa is for young people (under 30) who don’t have children and can demonstrate they have enough resources for their entire stay. It allows 12 months residency in NZ and permits temporary employment, giving you the flexibility to travel and work freely throughout your stay.

2. Seriously consider buying a car.

I know it sounds crazy, but it’s the most affordable way to go everywhere you want to go. You can get a decent car for around US$600 and third party insurance for around US$60 for the year. Sell back the car at the end of the year, and reap hundreds of dollars in savings. (You don’t need any special driver’s license for NZ, just a valid driver’s license for any country. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the NZ right-of-way laws, and remember – drive on the left side of the road)

Ruby, my 1990 Honda Vigor, at Wanaka
The alternatives to buying a car are taking buses, renting or hitchhiking. Buses are very expensive and slow and only go to specific stops (lots of New Zealand wonders are roadside stops). Renting a sleeper caravan is as convenient as car ownership, but more expensive over any extended period of time (they cost over NZ$65/day). Another option some travelers choose is hitchhiking, and it is quite safe.

3. Book the Great Walks now. They are worth it.

The Milford Sound is known as ‘the finest walk in the world’ and I believe it. It’s expensive and is booked up months in advance, but it is totally worth the effort. Book it before you go.

How did you first become interested in going to Saipan and how did you go about looking for a job there?

I saw an advertisement to work as an activities staff/lifeguard at a resort on an island that I had never heard of in the middle of the pacific ocean. I did research on the island and resort and decided to apply.

When you first arrived on the island, what were a few of the things that stood out to you the most?

The first thing that stood out to me was the temperature and the different vegetation compared to what I have been accustomed to. The next thing that stood out to me was the amount of Asian tourists, and the how family oriented the locals are here.

What are the people like on Saipan?

Saipan is a beautiful tropical island. Because of this it attracts many tourists, which is why there are so many resorts on the island. The amount of tourists on the island is astounding. There are still many more locals on the island than tourists.

What might a typical workday look like for you?

To start a typical day I would open one of the areas of the waterpark around 9am. Throughout the day I will spend each hour working at a different area in the park. Some of the different activity areas for the guest including: several pools, lazy river, several beach activities in and out of the water, flow riding machine, wall climbing, archery, tennis, etc. Most of the work consists of activities, lifeguarding, and handing out equipment to guests. Work days vary in hours from 4 hrs to 11 hrs. Each week is different.

What has been one of your favorite experiences on the island?

I have grown fond of interacting with guests from Korea, Japan, and Russia. Every day there are new guests who come for vacation. Each guest has a story of their own, and I get great satisfaction from talking with them and learning about them.

What is the most difficult thing about island life?

Spending 10 months on the island I have been able to see many different things. Growing up in Maine I was able to experience all four seasons, and get excited for the next season to come. Saipan is one of the most consistant temperature areas in the world. All year the temp says between 75-85, because of this there are only two seasons, summer, and 1 month of rain, The most difficult thing for me has been adapting to the lack the four seasons.

Do you have a favorite spot on the island?

My favorite spot is on top of the highest mountain on the island, that allows me to see all around the island. It has an amazing view of the vegetation, buildings, and surrounding islands.

…

Experiencing a new culture in a new location is part of what makes traveling such a wonderful experience.

Working in a new place and taking seasonal jobs in various locations are great ways to travel at a slow pace. Seasonal jobs often come with housing, and sometimes with food, making the planning and transition phases between travels easy. Spending a few months in one location lets you transform from a tourist into a local, develop strong friendships, and learn about a new culture, all things that are difficult to do on a short vacation.

Want to live your own travel adventures? Check out the Adventure Job board or browse this great List of Resources for Free Travel! You don’t need to be super-experienced to begin your adventures. There are positions (both volunteer and paid) for all types of people, from a volunteer position at a Buddhist Retreat Center, to trip leader positions around the world. Best of all, there are still plenty of positions to snatch up for the summer!

The holiday was first celebrated in 1885 as Prinsessedag (Princess’s Day) to honor Princess Wilhelmina on her birthday, but became Queen’s Day when Princess Wilhelmina became queen. The holiday jumped dates for many years– it was changed to fall on the birthday of Wilhelmina’s daughter, Juliana, and then on the birthday of her daughter’s daughter (Beatrix) on April 30th.

The celebrations traditionally involved a parade (for Wilhelmina), a floral tribute (for Juliana), and a tour of the towns of the Netherlands by Beatrix, who uses the opportunity to honor her country’s citizens and thank them for their service.

Today there are some vibrant and exciting traditions that accompany Queen’s Day, which provide a good excuse for many tourists to join in the celebrations.

Orenjegekte (also known as Orange Craze, Oranjekoorts, or Orange Fever), sweeps the nation each Queen’s Day. The Dutch people dress in all orange attire, often painting their faces, dying their hair, and wearing crazy orange accessories. Orange, though not represented in the Dutch flag, is the color of the Dutch Royal Family, the House of Orange, so named because of the Dutch acquisition of the principality of Orange in France in 1530. Orange was later annexed by France in 1660, but the title “House of Orange” stuck in the Netherlands.

The biggest celebrations take place in Amsterdam, with festivities starting a day early on “Queen’s Night” and taking over the streets, canals, parks, and buildings. Many Dutch take to the canals on vividly decorated (and often orange) boats, creating a gridlock bumper-boat party on the waterway.

Queen’s Day in Amsterdam boasts live music, DJ’s, and a city-wide flea market, because it is also a free market day (called Vrijmarkt). The city transforms into a giant yard sale; everyone and anyone sells stuff– stuff they’ve made, stuff they’ve bought, and stuff they want to get rid of. Many people sell out of transport bikes, a practical way to transport and display the goods among the crowds. On Queen’s Day no license is necessary to sell and no taxes are paid. There is even a dedicated section for kids to set up shop and sell their old toys for a few cents each.

If you want to join the festivities you’ll have to book a hotel early and walk to the event areas, because the streets will be impassable with crowds of excited, orange clad people. It’s recommended that you bring some snacks and water in a backpack because lines for food can get very long.

Your first thought for travel after college may be getting as far from home as possible to test your boundaries and escape your comfort zone. I’d recommend you spread your wings and head to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus if you want to go somewhere a bit different, challenge yourself and have a love of the great outdoors.

The island is packed full of lush, Mediterranean landscapes and the year round sunshine means you can get to grips with mountains, forests and wildlife whenever you make the trip out. In my opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world and you’re never more than an hour or so from the next adventure.

As it costs very little to hike and explore by foot, you can set your own pace. If you want to make the most of Cyprus, visit five of its best natural sights and enjoy unforgettable views.

1. Paphos forest

Paphos on the south-west of the island hosts an absolute dream forest; everywhere you look is green and bursting with life. Both Bonelli and Goshawk eagle species still breed here in the wild and, closer to the ground, you’ll find indigenous lizards and snakes. As you take in the huge range of the Brutia pine trees, you can stay within the forest boundaries and walk from sea level to a peak of over 1000m for beautiful panoramic views. Fuel up with local Paphos food, such as pork afelia, a meat and rice dish flavoured with coriander seeds.

2. Troodos mountains

Drink from freshwater streams surrounded by colourful wildflowers and the sound of bird calls. This is a ‘time-out’ location where serenity is king and your troubles seem very far away. The highest mountain in the range is Mount Olympus, which is nearly 2,000m tall. The varying heights mean you can be looking up on a sunny day and see snow-capped peaks that’ll take your breath-away. Horned moufflon, a species of wild sheep that only exist in Cyprus, also graze on the surrounding countryside.

3. Limassol Salt Lake

These landlocked bodies of water have more salt than sea water and create a raw eco-system that looks almost prehistoric. You’ll get to see thousands of wading birds during their migration seasons; to witness a “flamboyance” (group) of flamingos, travel in the winter months. I’d recommend taking either a pair of sturdy shoes or wellington boots for the rough terrain.

4. BLUE Flag Beaches

Walking, hiking and exploring earn you time to relax and recuperate on some of the best, environmentally protected beaches in the world. Nissi is the most popular beach but Aphrodite’s Rock is legendary. It is said if you swim around the rock three times you’re meant to attain eternal beauty! With that in mind, you can do your part and help preserve the natural beauty of Cyprus by cleaning up any rubbish you may find. Alternatively, you can join a beach clean-up scheme, which is a good way to give something back as well as getting a chance to meet locals.

5. Endangered species of turtle

If you’re keen to help the wildlife of the island as well as enjoying it, then volunteer to work with turtles. There are several societies that would be happy for your services in protecting nesting female Green and Loggerhead turtles, which lay their eggs on the island’s beaches (including Paphos and Ayia Napa). As slow, vulnerable creatures, they need to be kept away from predators and it’s a once in a lifetime experience ensuring the survival of their next generation.

Tips

When you’re out there, drink plenty of water, especially when walking long distances. I’d also suggest taking lots of photos of the rare animals and wild flowers, as friends and family will be keen to share your experiences. Most importantly, stay outdoors as much as you can to get real-life experience from your travels.

Frances is a travel writer based in the UK who is a destination expert for lowcostholidays.com. She enjoys cycling and is looking to explore Spain in the summer.

I wasn’t ready to settle into the 9-5 after college, but I still wanted to learn and use my degree. So I found an amazing organization  in Guatemala that fulfilled those requirements: Trama Textiles. (Here is a list of other similar organizations that are free to intern with.) Trama Textiles is a 100% women owned weaving co-op located in the western highlands of Guatemala. It was formed after Guatemala’s Civil War in 1988 where many of the women’s fathers, brothers, husbands and children “disappeared” due to the guerrilla army. The women had to figure out a way to replace the income that was now gone, and weaving was the answer.

Below: Market Day with some of the colorful textiles indigenous to the area.

While we were there we worked on filming a documentary: A Day in the Life of a Weaver, spotlighting the plight of women living in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, the struggles the women face daily, and how we can help.

Below: Weaving on a loom.

Because these families don’t make a lot of money they are forced to stop their children’s education so the children can help bring in income. The girls weave and the boys do field work. A lot of girls as young as 6 and 7 start weaving when their families aren’t bringing in enough money. Through the documentary we aimed to raise awareness of this issue so the children could get funded to go to school and relieve their parents of this financial burden. I was astounded at how much I took education for granted and how badly these children wanted it.

They realized at a young age what I didn’t realize until now: education is an equalizer. If you have an education you can be anything you want to be.

Empowering women through weaving empowers the whole community. Women can provide food, shelter, and education for their children through this avenue.

Below: Everyone loves seeing themselves on camera!

Learning about the weaving process

Weavers make the thread from plants, dye it with berries and colored plants, and eventually put it all onto a weaving loom where they weave intricate patterns indigenous to the area they live. Every village has its own unique pattern so you can tell what area the piece you have is from. Weaving is a part of their culture, it is their heritage they are keeping alive, so being able to do that while making money to provide for their families is wonderful.

Below: Some weavers of the Maam village that allowed us into their homes wear their indigenous weaving patterns.

Below: A meal of tortillas and hot water. While we were filming they waited for us to get there before they ate, and shared everything they had with us. They even taught us how to make tortillas! It was amazing to be able to capture and spread awareness of these incredibly strong women trying to do what is best for their families.

Spending a month working in your field in another country is so helpful career-wise especially if you want to do anything international. Don’t worry about money getting in the way of wanting to do a summer internship abroad, check out my How to Fund Your Humanitarian Travel Tips. On my website you can also find these beautiful indigenous women’s weavings so we can all work together to break this vicious cycle of poverty.

Formally known as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Jazz fest is a traditionally celebration of New Orleans and Louisiana culture, although the festival has become a vibrant and exciting melting pot of cultures.

The celebrations began in 1970 and were carefully planned out by New Orleans and George Wein, creator of the Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival. Wein was commissioned to create a festival to celebrate New Orleans culture, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation was created. The Jazz Fest was born and became a great success.

Today the festival features live music, flavorful food, crafts, markets, parades, and demonstrations. Food is a big part of the fun; you can find things from the fiery to the refreshing, like crawfish bisque, cajun chicken, jambalaya, fried plantains, Creole cream cheese cake, sweet potato pie, and chocolate Azteca gelato. The Louisiana Folklife Village brings together artisans and experts in Louisiana tradition to get back-to-basics with traditional crafting skills. The Louisiana Marketplace is a representation of New Orleans and Louisiana culture as seen through the eyes of Louisiana artisans.

The music is a big part of what draws such a huge crowd; while plenty of Lousiana music is represented, there are also tons of well-known singers and bands from around the world. The festival boasts country music, pop, blues, R&B, folk, Latin, rock, rap, Cajun and much, much more.

The Jazz Fest falls on the same weekend each year as the newer Festival International de Louisiane, so many festival-goers feel torn between the two options. While the Festival International de Louisiane is said to have a more authentic, community-oriented feel (and is free), many think the Jazz Fest has a more intense atmosphere and is more culturally diverse. There is plenty to see and do.

Visit the official site of Jazz Fest.

Photo via Jeremy Villasis on Flickr

Songkran was originally a time to visit family and pay respects to elders, and to clean away the old year and bring in a fresh one. Many Thais washed away the old year by literally washing their homes and any Buddhas or Buddha images around the house. They would collect the water that ran over the Buddahs and pour it onto the shoulders of family for good luck. This tradition evolved to include throwing water on random strangers to help relieve the intense April heat.

Eventually the original purpose of the holiday became secondary to the national water fight that is so loved by Thais and foreigners today. People grab whatever they can get their hands on– buckets, water balloons, water guns, a hose– and douse each other with water. Sometimes chalk or menthol (the latter causes a cooling sensation) is mixed into the water to create a paste which people smear on each other’s faces for good fortune.

The holiday now draws a huge number of international tourists who are eager to join in the water battle. Popular tourists destinations (like Phuket) are some of the most exciting places to be during Songkran. Chang Mia hosts one of the biggest Songkran celebrations, with a festival of performances, street food, and a procession of an image of Buddha.

Those who celebrate the holiday more traditionally may scent the water with herbs and sprinkle it on their elders. Many people still visit temples to offer food and alms to Buddhist monks.

Traditional Thais, especially the elders, sometimes complain that the holiday has lost its original meaning and call for more stringent control of the holiday, especially traffic control, because there have been many accidents caused by people throwing water in the faces of riding motorcyclists.

Some traditionalist also complain of the lack of dress code; some clothing inevitably becomes see-through when doused in water. It is recommended that festival attendees dress as if they were going to the beach: light fabrics with a bathing suit underneath.

If you plan to visit Thailand, the days of Songkran are a great time to go to get plenty of exposure to Thai traditions. But rest assured, you will get wet.

If you know the original source of an unlabeled photo, please let me know and I’ll add it.

1. Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, Israel

A gold-covered shrine at the Temple Mount.

2. Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork, Ireland

Spires, gargoyles, and golden angels make this a popular destination.

3. Sabancı Merkez Camii, Adana, Turkey

An Ottoman mosque, the largest mosque in Turkey.

4. Spasso-Yakovlevsky Monastery, Rostov, Russia

Built in the 14th century and still standing.

5. The Malacca Straits Mosque, Malacca Island, Malaysia

When the water level is high enough, it appears to be floating.

photo by Harith Hashim

6. The Monastery at Petra, Jordan

A stunning cultural heritage site carved into the rock. UNESCO world heritage site.

7. St. Panteleimon’s Cathedral, Kiev, Ukraine

4 domes surround a massive black center dome.

8. Hsinbyume Pagoda/ Myatheindan Pagoda, Mingun, Myanmar

A white pagoda modeled after the description of the mythological Buddhist mountain, Mount Meru.

9. Panagia Hozoviotissa Monastery, Amorgos, Greece

Built to protect a religious icon from intruders.

10. Borobudur Temple, Java, Indonesia

Intricately decorated, now a UNESCO world heritage site.

11. Phuktal Monastery, Ladakh, India

A monastery built into the cliff side.

12. Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan (Federal Territory Mosque), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Completed in the year 2000, this mosque can accommodate 17,000 people.

13. Monestir de Montserrat, Catalonia, Spain

A ninth century Benedictine monastery in a stunning location.

14. Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran

An intricate and colorful mosque.

15. Borgrund Stave Church,  Lærdal, Norway

A unique old wooden church with medieval architecture.

16. Santuario de Las Lajas,  Nariño, Colombia

This church stands 100 meters above the ground and is connected to the opposite canyon by a bridge.

photo via Flickr

17. Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík, Iceland

The tallest church in Iceland, designed to resemble the lava flows of the landscape.

18. Trinity Church, Antarctica

A 15-meter high wooden church built in Antarctica.

19. Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar, Malaysia

A beautiful mosque with a golden dome.

20. Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), Punjab, India

Lights up spectacularly at night.

21. Great Mosque of Samarra, Samarra, Iraq

A 54-meter high spiraling cone.

22. Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire, England

This cathedral towers above the surrounding flat and watery landscape.

23. Jubilee Church, Rome, Italy

The concrete walls control heat.

24. Cathedral of Brasília, Brazil

Visitors enter into the cathedral through a dark tunnel and emerge into a bright space with a glass roof.

25. Albi Cathedral (formerly Sainte Cecile Cathedral), Albi, France

An enormous brick cathedral.

26. Yumbulagang Palace, Tsetang, Tibet

Originally built as a palace, it was converted into a monastery in the 7th century.

27. Wieliczka Salt Mine, Kraków, Poland

Underground chapels. A UNESCO world heritage site.

28. Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, Russia

Iconic cathedral in Red Square.

29. Kiev Pechersk Lavra Monastery, Kiev, Ukraine

Part of the complex is an underground cave system.

30. Church in Vothonas, Santorini

A beautiful church in the characteristic white and blue.

31. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates (Sunni)

32. Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

Simple on the outside, but very intricate on the inside.

33. Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo, Egypt

With a marble-paved interior courtyard.

34. Tanah Lot Temple, Bali

A mysterious temple only accessible during low tide.

35. Trinity Cathedral, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Restored after a fire in 2006.

36. Putra Mosque, Putrajaya, Malaysia

Famous pink mosque.

37. Srimushnam Temple, Tamil Nadu, India

An ancient and intricate temple.

38. Abuja National Mosque, Abuja, Nigeria

Open to the public except during congregational prayers.

39. Ki Gompa Monastery, Lahaul and Spiti district, India.

4,166 meters above sea level.

40. Church at Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, France

In prehistoric times the bay was land.

41. St. Bartholomew’s Church, Berchtesgaden, Germany

An icon in a magical setting.

42. Qolşärif Mosque, Kazan, Russia

Includes a library and a publishing house.

43. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

A huge Baroque and Renaissance structure.

44. Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy

Right on the Grand Canal.

45. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

The dome is covered in pure gold.

46. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Atlanta, Lilburn, Georgia, USA

A Hindu temple built with limestone and marble.

via Flickr

47. Church Bârsana, Romania

A small wooden church has become a well-known icon.

via Flickr

48. Santuario Dom Bosco, Brasilia Brazil

Beautiful stained-glass windows.

49. Taktsang Palphug Monastery (The Tiger’s Nest), Paro Valley, Bhutan

A sacred cliffside temple complex.

via Flickr

50. Wat Rong Khun, Chiang Rai, Thailand

An intricate white temple.

via Flickr

51. Temples Ellora Caves (Verul Leni), Maharashtra, India

Rock-cut architecture from between the 5th & 10th centuries.

52. Khajuraho Temples, Khajuraho, India

These temples are widely popular because of their intricate erotic sculptures.

via Flickr

53. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, India

A unique and colorful temple.

54. St. Andrew’s Church, Kiev, Ukraine

Overlooks a historic neighborhood.

via Flickr

55. Temppeliaukio Kirkko (Rock Church), Helsinki, Finland

A futuristic looking church built into the rock.

56. Peace Tower (Dai-Heiwa-To) at the Church of Perfect Liberty, Osaka, Japan

A strange tower honoring war victims.

57. Jain Temple, Ranakpur, India

No two marble pillars are the same.

58. Dayr el-Bahari, Luxor, Egypt

Mortuary temples and tombs.

via Flickr

59. Monasteries at Mount Athos, Greece

Mysterious and majestic monasteries.

60. Sviatohirsk Lavra (Cave Monastery),  Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine

Located on the right bank of the Seversky Donets River.

61. Sagrada Família, Barcelona, Spain

Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí.

via Flickr

62. Church of the Transfiguration, Kizhi, Russia

A stunning wooden church.

via Flickr

63. Sri Siva Subramaniya temple, Nadi, Fiji

A small but vibrant temple.

via Flickr

64. Selimiye Mosque, Edirne, Turkey

A grand mosque at the center of a complex.

65. St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, Kiev, Ukraine

It has been demolished and reconstructed.

via Flickr

66. Ostrog Monastery, Ostroška Greda, Montenegro

Placed against an almost vertical cliff.

67. Fortified church, Biertan, Transylvania, Romania

There are many fortified churches in the area.

68. Jetavana Monastery ruins, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

The large structure is a stupa called Jetavanaramaya.

via Flickr

69. Candi Prambanan (or Candi Rara Jonggrang), Java, Indonesia

A 9th-century Hindu temple compound with the remains of over 200 temples.

70. Duomo di Milano, Milan, Italy

A gothic cathedral and a popular tourist destination.

via Flickr

71. Shahjahan Mosque, Thatta, Pakistan

Beautiful red bricks and tiles.

via Flickr

72. Sun Temple, Modhera, Gujarat, India

A massive tank stores water.

73. Rouen Cathedral, Rouen, France

A cathedral in the “City of a Hundred Spires.”

74. Notre Dame de Paris, Paris, France

The church with the famous gargoyles.

via Flickr

75. Shrine of Hazrat Ali (or the Blue Mosque), Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan

Beautiful and intricate design.

76. Akshardham, Delhi, India

A Hindu temple complex.

via Flickr

77. Shwedagon Paya Pagoda, Yangon, Burma

A sacred Buddhist pagoda.

78. Dendera Temple complex, Dendera, Egypt

The whole complex covers some 40,000 square meters.

79. Sultanahmet Camii (the Blue Mosque), Istanbul, Turkey

Blue tiles adorn the walls of its interior.

80. Shiva Temple, Puthia, Bangladesh

The largest in its temple complex.

81. Batalha Monastery, Batalha, Portugal

One of the best and examples of Late Gothic architecture in Portugal.

via Flickr

82. Meteora Monastery, Meteora, Greece

One of six monasteries built on natural sandstone rock pillars.

via Konstantinos Vasilakis

83. The Great Mosque of Tuban, Java, Indonesia

A very colorful mosque.

84. Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, Mon State, Myanmar

A well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site.

85. Great Mosque of Djenné, Djenné, Mali

The largest mud brick or adobe building in the world.

86. Erdene Zuu Monastery, Övörkhangai Province, Mongolia

Planners attempted to create a long surrounding wall.

87. Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Paks, Hungary

On the spires are a sun, a cross, and a crescent moon( the symbol of Islam).

88. Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, Arizona

A chapel built into the mesas.

89. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Famous for its massive dome.

90. Popa Taungkalat Shrine, Myanmar

A Buddhist monastery sitting on the peak of Mt. Popa.

via Flickr

91. Temples of Bagan, Myanmar

The remains of over 2,200 temples and pagodas can be found here.

92. Samarinda Islamic Center Mosque, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia

It stands out with its large, decorated dome.

93. Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Lesser-known but perhaps even more beautiful than Angkor Wat.

This is one of my favorite pictures on this list, so let me know if you know the source!

94. The Parthenon, Athens, Greece

The famous temple on the Athenian Acropolis.

95. Seiganto-ji temple, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

A UNESCO world heritage site at Nachi Falls.

96. St. George’s Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Israel

A sixth-century cliff-hanging complex.

97. Stroganov Chruch, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

Another colorful Russian church.

98. Itsukushima (or Miyajima/Shrine Island), Japan

A UNESCO world heritage site.

99. Trierer Dom, Trier, Germany

The oldest cathedral in the country.

100. Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Sergiev Posad, Russia

This monastery is the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church.

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ID:EN