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Taking the metro train to the easily accessed Skogskyrkogarden, I was immediately confronted by the awkward dynamic of being a tourist amongst grieving families. There were 2 different funeral parties I witnessed while walking the grounds. I tried to be discreet and avoid camera use in spaces that deserved some privacy, and the site is large enough where its unlikely you would actually become an annoyance to others.. Thankfully, much of my explorations were done in private.

I appreciated the modern architecture and the design itself which impacts the visitor. The wooded paths create an atmosphere that could be described as soothing. The chapels feel remote and isolated alone, but I imagine for families intimacy is more accurate. The hill or "mediation grove" is something in itself. Walking up the hill from the Southern side (opposite of the main entrance), there was a special sense of walking toward the sky. It felt otherworldly, perhaps because the sky was also a beautiful color, with thin delicate clouds.

I had a lot of time for my own thoughts here. My reflections left me relaxed and ready to continue my last couple days exploring Stockholm before returning to the United States. For most visitors 1-2 hours should be sufficient to visit Skogskyrkogarden.

Reports seem to point to a 2022-23 (?) nomination from Sweden (likely premature). Perhaps, but this nomination will have to overcome some major challenges to be inscribed. Number one is OUV, and I could not shake the feeling that this serial nomination is of regional importance. While I only visited the most accessible site in Uppsala, other components I read about did little to affirm this nomination can get a positive recommendation from ICOMOS. During my research of all serial components, none stood out as exceptional or significantly more representative of Systematic Biology. Often association with the scientist was on display rather then authentic cultural landscapes that related to scientific innovation.

There is an indication that Sweden wishes this nominations to be transnational. The USA, England, Netherlands, and France are mentioned. Yet, for these state parties to become involved, it will almost certainly be much later before a dossier is ready. No other state party has made a tentative site addition relating to Systematic Biology.

About the site site itself, I can say its an easy train ride from Stockholm, and a 15 minute walk from the station. Summer weather and blooming flowers made it a pleasant visit. The home (museum) is not particularly noteworthy, but for its association with a prominent scientist. Uppsala is worth visiting, and I would recommend visiting the garden and other sites in this nomination (time permitting).

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) has been part of the Tentative list of Portugal since this year. At this geographical location three tectonic plates have been moving away from each other and the void has been filled by magma from the inner earth. The MAR actually extends from the Antarctic to the Arctic, but this possible future nomination only comprises the Portuguese Azores section. It replaces the earlier single tentative sites Algar do Carvão and Furna do Enxofre, and now seems to incorporate all inhabited and uninhabited islands plus the terrestrial waters of the Plateau of the Azores.

It is not difficult to see or experience geological features of the MAR during a visit to the Azores. My stay at the three islands of Terceira, Pico and Faial provided numerous up-and-close views of results of volcanic events that took place here. One of the main tourist attractions of the island of Terceira for example is Algar do Carvão, a “volcanic chimney”. While I found tourism very low-key in general on the Azores and local costs only a fraction of those of the mainland, entrance to Algar do Carvão costs 10 EUR. For that sum you’ll have to descend a long flight of stairs, until the bottom of the volcano where there is a lake created by rainwater and stalactites/stalagmites on the walls. I did not find it very spectacular.

On the island of Faial the site of Capelinhos can be visited. The landscape here is the result of a submarine volcanic …

Visited June 2017.

To get to Al Zubarah Fort and the visitors center you can take bus 100 from Doha Al Ghanim bus station; the first one leaves at 9:30 am and it takes 2 hours to get there. There’s not any admission fee and all you can see is the fort itself, the small but informative exposition and the adjacent Qal’at Murair Archaeological site. One hour is enough to see all that and catch a return bus at 12:30.

If you want to see the remains of al Zubarah city at the seashore, you have to prearrange the visit for the next day at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha or at Tourist Information at the airport.

Do not expect anything spectacular!

I visited this tentative WHS in June 2017. It is a very convenient stop between Shymkent and the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum. Most of the locals skip this site and head straight to the Arstanbab Mausoleum as part of their pilgrimage.

Solivagant's review is a great detailed walkthrough of what you will see when visiting the Otrar archaeological site. I particularly agree with him when he says: "Otrar is more a place to visit for what it once was rather than to see what it is now". As such it is similar to the 'experience' one gets by visiting Turkmenistan's Nissa WHS.

When I visited in June 2017, I was the only soul in the huge archaeological site and I felt as if I had trespassed into an archaeological site where excavations were still underway. There are pieces of broken pottery, tiles and mud bricks scattered everywhere, some partially visible in the mud, exposed after heavy rainfalls. Maybe that is why I felt lucky to be able to visit such a site, as I pictured myself walking on a semi desert mound which could possibly be hiding 'whole structures' like what happened with the Sphinx in Egypt (ok, maybe I had got a sunstroke by the time I finished visiting!).

The top left photo shows the remains of the 13th-15th century bathhouse, the top right photo shows the newly reconstructed Gate of Shakhristan, the bottom left photo shows the foundations of residential buildings, a mosque and possibly some fortresses, while …

Since I was visiting Copenhagen for 3 days, I decided a 10 minute walk to Amalienborg would be worth the effort! Actually, since sunrise and sunset was at approximately 4am and 11pm respectively, I made two visits. The first visit was fortunate in that our arrival coincided with the changing of the guard. The second visit was during the late afternoon a couple days later, since I had the Copenhagen Card, I decided I might as well visit the interior of the palace as well.

The exterior is a pleasant white and the symmetry of design of Amalienborg is perhaps its most special characteristic, but like previous reviewers, it would be a stretch to claim any sort of OUV.

The interior of the palace is well-maintained, but there is little on display that sets this palace apart from the multitude of other royal heritage sites in other Scandinavian countries. I agree, Copenhagen may have enough for a world heritage city designation, so perhaps Amalienborg will one-day be an important component of a WHS. Yet, speaking only of royal sites in Denmark, there are at least 2 non-WHS palaces in and around Copenhagen that have comparable value, and perhaps could be better argued for world heritage status. That reality leaves any more Danish palace/castles being inscribed as fairly slim.

I visited this WHS in June 2017. This site is the main reason I included Kazakhstan on my Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan trip and I'm glad I spent 2 nights in Turkestan as the mausoleum didn't disappoint.

Even after having visited Uzbekistan's Timurid monuments, this mausoleum still ranks as one of the most grandiose and best-preserved in the region. The mausoleum alone can be visited in less than an hour but it would be a great pity not to revisit at different times of the day (if you're lucky enough to visit on a sunny day) to view the intricate geometric designs and turquoise and blue tiles with the best light conditions.

Moreover, most of the pilgrims visit just after sunrise or just before sunset and go round the main building touching the walls and stopping every now and then to pray. Even though entrance to the mausoleum and all the other buildings is from 9am till 6pm, the whole complex exterior can be visited freely at any time of the day. The fact that it is still an active pilgrimage site adds to the whole experience in my opinion. In the morning the best lighting is on the reconstructed fortification walls and main entrance gate, while in the later afternoon, the best lighting is on the rear part of the mausoleum and its domes.

There are UNESCO signs all over the place even in front of buildings which have nothing to do with the inscription. However, there is a simple makeshift sign …

I had one full week in Öland, so I knew I would have ample time to fully explore and comprehend this somewhat elusive WHS. My ancestors are from 2 small villages Northeast of Borholm. Moreover, since this was Midsummer, one of the most important holidays in Sweden, I was fairly busy meeting relatives, celebrating the holiday, visiting grave sites, and exploring the Northern portion of the Island via my cousins car.

Late June gave me nearly 18 hours of daylight, and at 8am I left Borholm for a truly all-day trip to every key portion of the inscribed area of Southern Öland. This took much research, including reading the vague nomination file, which rarely identifies specific sites and the pictures are hardly visible (captions). Here is a list of key places to help the would be traveller; there are indeed many more, but these are the major sites I visited.

Iron Age landscapes

- Gettlinge Grave Field

- Mysinge Grave Field

- Eketorp Fortress (reconstructed above foundations)

Viking Age

- Karlevi Runestone

Middle Ages

- Resmo Church

- Line Villages (Southeastern Öland, Nasby to Kvinneby)

- Gammalsby Coastlands (Sjomark)

Royal Hunting Reserve (17th Century)

- King Karl X Gustav 's Wall (1653)

- Ottenbylund (hunting reserve)

Industrial Age (18-19th Century)

- Alum Works in Degerhamn (Södra Bruket)

- Långe Jan Lighthouse

Stora Alvaret (Hike)

- Möckelmossen

Ramsar Sites

- Öland, eastern coastal areas (Gammalsby)

- Ottenby

This day trip lasted until about 10pm. My fellow travelers did not find the …

Driving the most popular motorway Lisbon-Porto we made a quick detour to see the university campus in Aveiro, especially its library building, placed on Portuguese T-List. The library, according to the description of the proposal, is one of the best examples of Alvaro Siza's architectural style. I am not familiar with modern architecture and I have not heard about Alvaro Siza before, but I liked the library building and the whole campus. In style and atmosphere it is so different from (not so distant) University of Coimbra but if I was a student again, I might consider these two places equally. I am not aware how many buildings of the Aveiro University have been designed by (or in cooperation with) Alvaro Siza, but the library building is similar in style to all other edifices of the campus. The library building can be seen from outside, taking photographs is not allowed inside (and as a visitor you can only enter the lobby). Although all my family liked the visit, being ignorants in modern architecture we could not understand the potential outstanding universal value of the place.

This site was inscribed in 2015 and I am positive I was not the only one wondering why? Based on the subsequent lackluster reviews, my conclusion was I would visit the site if I could. Once I did decide to visit this WHS, I sought a more substantive experience. In my estimation, a walk in the hunting park alone would probably NOT be that worthwhile, regardless of the gorgeous weather. Therefore, I made an online reservation to tour the Ermitage (Hermitage), or Royal Hunting Lodge. This tour is apparently recent, in that public access to view the interior of this 18th century hunting lodge was previously prohibited. Today the tour is offered during the Summer only, English tours are only available on Saturday. The tour cost is high, 125.00 DKK per person (about $20 USD).

After arriving by train, I walked to the Hermitage, we enjoyed the sunny weather, the hunting circuit, and the occasional deer that are so prevalent in this hunting park. I would estimate we saw about fifty or so deer during our 45 minute walk. Pleasant landscapes and scenery, royal hunting park or not, this WHS will not be obvious in its OUV. However, I think the interior of the Hermitage, the only major building that contributes to the sites OUV, is a great starting point to understand this WHS.

The tour is just under an hour, and you visit all floors. The highlight is the exquisite Dining Hall which (for a while at least) included …

I visited this site in late 2007.

The Changdeok Palace sits in central Seoul and is an intact, impressive former seat of the Korean monarchy. Unfortunately, the palace seems rather sterile because all of the artifacts and furnishings have been removed. It is a collection of mostly empty buildings. Unlike most World Heritage sites, you can’t just buy a ticket and stroll about the grounds. You have to be with a tour guide, and tours leave about every hour/half hour in different languages. Tours last about an hour.

This, along with the nearby Jongmyo Shrine are the easiest world heritage sites to visit in Seoul.

Read more about the Changdeokgung Palace Complex on my website.

I visited this tentative WHS in April/May 2017. On different days, I walked different stretches of the Seoul City Wall.

Most of the city wall is reconstructed and in a way certain parts reminded me of the Xian City Wall. However, it is worth walking/hiking different parts for panoramic views of Seoul from different angles. The Seoul City Wall museum is a great place to appreciate the wall's importance.

My personal highlights were visiting the 3 remaining main gates and 4 of the minor gates (photo).

I visited this WHS in June 2017. From Astana, we drove for around 2 hours (130km) to the "Bird Paradise" Visitor Centre in Korgalzhyn. The impressive flat steppe view will kick in after you exit Astana and will continue till you get to Korgalzhyn. Countless horses and cattle, a few old Soviet Union ghost buildings, and a vast never-ending flat steppe. Road conditions are not too bad but careless overtaking and non-existing markings on the asphalt are the cause of frequent car accidents.

Once in Korgalzhyn, we visited the Visit Center "Birds Paradise" with its old dioramaas and watched the 20 minute information video named "Mystery of protected lands". Hanging on the wall among different birding certificates, I spotted the original UNESCO Biosphere inscription certificate but not the UNESCO WHS inscription certificate. Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve is the largest protected area in Kazakhstan and is at the crossroads of migration routes for migratory birds, making it one of the key ornithological areas of international importance with 346 bird species, 700 butterfly species, 14 fish species, 374 species of flora, 2 species of frogs, 4 species of snakes and 43 species of fauna. Outside of the designated area, I could already spot pygmy owls, swans, marsh harriers, pelicans, herons, warblers and several waders apart from several marmots.

Instead of losing precious time to take lunch, I brought some packed lunch with me and spent more time by the designated lakes. We drove more than 60km offroad on grassland and shrubland to see …

I visited here in late 2007.

The Jongmyo Shrine grounds is literally across the street from the Changdeok Palace compound. Like the Changdeok Palace, it suffers from a lack of fixtures and artifacts. Unlike the Changdeok Palace, you can enter the grounds with a ticket and stroll around the facilities to your heart’s content as a guide is not required.

Read more about the Jongmyo Shrine on my website.

My wife and I climbed Kilimanjaro in March 2011. We used a local company named Zara Tours, who I would fully recommend (it's not permitted to climb Kilimanjaro without guides).

Although you have a choice of routes, to maximise our chances of summiting we picked the longest route: Machame. This meant basically five days up, and 1.5 days back down, staying in tents the entire way. This gives you the longest amount of time to acclimatise to the altitude, as hypoxia is more likely to stop you reaching the summit than your legs are.

Along the way, you pass through rainforest, alpine forest, moorlands, and eventually the last couple of days it's just a rocky moonscape. Not much wildlife to speak of other than birds and insects.

Our porters and guides were great, and we felt in safe hands at all times. The only disappointment was that we arrived on the summit before sunrise, and the heavy clouds rolled in early that day so we couldn't see a thing!

As another reviewer said, if you want to just "see" Kilimanjaro from the base, your best bet is to stay a night or two in the nearby town of Moshi. The summit is usually shrouded in cloud during the day, but is typically clear around sunrise and sunset.

Good luck!

You can see more of my UNESCO World Heritage Journey on Youtube, via the link below.

I visited here in late 2007.

Suwon is about an hour ride by commuter train from Seoul. When I arrived in Suwon I walked to the Hwaseong Fortress, getting lost on the way in the cold weather. When I got to the castle I just walked up the first stairs I found along the wall of the castle.

When I got to the top I saw a bunch of guys standing around in traditional dress. I figured that because it was a historical site, they must be doing some re-enactment for school kids or something.

Hwaseong FortressSaveWhen I get to the top of the hill, I find a ton of people, cameras, lights and big cranes. They were shooting a movie! Me, some dopey white guy with a camera, comes over the top of the hill where no one was stationed because they didn’t think anyone would be walking around the part of the grounds. Had I been there a minute or two sooner, I would have walked right into the middle of their shot.

I stuck around for about an hour watching everyone do their thing. I had never been on a movie set before, so I found that much more interesting than the historical relics around me. The director looked like a Korean hippie. I have photos of him and the lead actor, but I have no idea who they are.

Read more about the Hwaseong Fortress on my website.

I visited here on Christmas Day 2007.

If you are ever in Hong Kong, take a day to go and visit the Historic Center of Macau. It is to Portugal what Hong Kong was the British. It is less than an hour away by high-speed ferry, and there are boats leaving all the time. Modern Macau is the Asian Las Vegas, with many of the large Vegas hotels also now in Macau: MGM Grand, Sands, Wynn and the Venetian.

Historic Center of MacauSaveThe Historic Center of Macau is the old city set up by the Portuguese. The featured attraction is the facade of St. Paul’s Church which burned down in the 19th Century. There are also other historic buildings in the area, all within walking distance.

I visited Macau on Christmas day 2007 and got to taste Chinese treats such as pork floss and Portuguese items like egg custard.

Read more about the Historic Center of Macau on my website.

Out of the 9 main islands of the Azores, Pico Island may be the prettiest one. Its lush green flora strongly contrasts with the abundant black lava stone that is present along its coasts. Its iconic stratovolcano peak is a landmark in the Azores part of the Atlantic Ocean. And there’s a WHS as well: the Vineyard Landscape of Pico Island comprises two narrow strips of land along the coast, where grapes are grown on a bottom of solid lava. Within stone fences, grapes were traditionally grown between the rocks of the lava stone - without soil. This part of Pico was unsuitable for ordinary farming.

The northern part of this WHS lies right next to the airport of Pico, so it’s a really nice welcome when you fly in. The plots neatly divided by walls of basaltic blocks are a memorable sight. I stayed for 3 nights near the other stretch of vineyards though, at Madalena. There’s a great walk through the WHS landscape that you can do in that area. It starts in Porto Calhau. I did not rent a car on Pico (also not on Terceira), and got around easily by hiking, one-way taxi rides and the occasional public bus. To get to Porto Calhau I took a taxi. The driver was very much aware of the starting point of the hike, it’s very popular and well-signposted.

The walk starts on the paved road along the coast. It's a minor road, I encountered little traffic …

I visited here in fall of 2007.

Located a short distance out of Gyeongju, the Seokguram Grotto and Bluguksa Temple are two completely different w sites put under the same world heritage banner. The Seokguram Grotto was a real disappointment. It is much more difficult to get to, sitting on the top of a mountain, and up a winding road. You have to walk about 10-15 min to get there, and when you do get there, it is a tiny alcove where you can’t take photos, and the Buddha is walled off behind glass.

The Bluguska Temple, however, is the most impressive thing in the Gyeongju area. It was the best-preserved temple I visited in South Korea and is a rather large complex. The above photo is the front of the Seokguram Grotto. Both the temple and the shrine can be visited from Gyeongju on a half day trip via taxi or organized tour.

Read more about the Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple on my website.

I visited Nikko in the fall of 2007.

Nikko is a small town and the temple area is located in a wooded area about a 30-minute walk from the train station. I managed to visit Nikko on a day trip from Tokyo. About half of the trip is via the fast Shinkansen, and the other half is a much slower local train.

The most famous thing in Nikko is probably the wood carving of the "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" monkies. That trope has its origins here.

I highly recommend visiting Nikkor for anyone with a few days in Tokyo.

Read more about the Shrines and Temples of Nikko on my website.