Some time ago I came across the following web-site:
http://www.hillmanwonders.com/
It's a list of 100 wonders of the world, as compiled by Howard Hillman - "the world's leading wonder authority". I'm not sure who exactly issues such authorization but the list is still interesting as is the idea behind it - "See the World's Top 100 Wonders before you die".
I'm usually against check-listing such things - I think one should go with the flow instead of trying to tick check-boxes but I also like the "do XX things before you die" approach. I think it can help us to remember that life is not just about working and paying bills - every now and then we need to look up from our desks and see what's around us.
So here's my checklist as per Hillman's original list. I am currently on 28% - I'll try to keep it updated as I travel (hopefully :) )
Maybe you can pick your own list of things to do or places to go - or better yet, make a list of your own!
1. Pyramids of Egypt
2. Great Wall of China
- Working on it
3. Taj Mahal, India
- Working on it
4. Serengeti Migration, Tanzania and Kenya
- Working on it
5. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
- Working on it
6. Grand Canyon, AZ, USA
7. Machu Picchu, Peru
8. Antarctica Cruise
- Working on it
9. Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil
- Working on it
10. Bali, Indonesia
- Working on it
11. Amazon Rain Forest, Brazil & Peru et. al.
- Working on it
12. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
- Working on it
13. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
- Working on it
14. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
- Working on it
15. Victoria Falls, Zambia & Zimbabwe
- Working on it
16. Forbidden City, China
- Working on it
17. Bagan, Myanmar
- Working on it
18. Karnak, Egypt
19. Teotihuacan, Mexico
20. Banaue Rice Terrace, Philippines
- Working on it
21. Bora Bora, Polynesia
- Working on it
22. Acropolis, Greece
23. Potala Palace, China
- Working on it
24. Jerusalem Old City, Israel
25. TerraCotta Warriors, China
- Working on it
26. Chichen Itza, Mexico
27. Petra, Jordan
- Working on it
28. Nile River Cruise, Egypt
29. Easter Island
30. Cappadocia, Turkey
- Working on it
31. Colosseum of Rome, Italy
32. Fjords of Norway
- Working on it
33. St Peter's Basilica, Vatican
34. Egyptian Museum, Egypt
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
35. Borobudur, Indonesia
- Working on it
36. Valley of the Kings, Egypt
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
37. Hong Kong, China
- Working on it
38. Sistine Chapel, Vatican
(ok, so this is a couple of rooms before the Sistine Chapel, but they wouldn't let me take a picture inside :) )
39. Burj Khalifa, Dubai
- Working on it
40. Alhambra, Spain
- Working on it
41. Louvre Museum, France
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
42. Canals of Venice, Italy
- Working on it
43. Versailles, France
- Working on it
44. Carlsbad Caverns, NM, USA
- Working on it
45. Mecca, Saudi Arabia
- Unlikely ;)
46. Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
- Working on it
47. Metropolitan Mus, NY, USA
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
48. Mt Everest, Nepal & China
- Working on it
49. Temple Em. Buddha, Thailand
50. Hagia Sofia, Turkey
- Working on it
51. Pompeii, Italy
- Working on it
52. Kashmir Valley, India
- Working on it
53. Prague Old Town, Czech Republic
- Working on it
54. Golden Temple, India
- Working on it
55. Amalfi Drive, Italy
- Working on it
56. Meenakshi, India
- Working on it
57. Chartres Cathedral, France
- Working on it
58. Mezquita Cordoba, Spain
- Working on it
59. Damascus Old City, Syria
- Unlikely
60. Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Working on it
61. Uffizi Gallery, Italy
- Working on it
62. Rio Panoramic View, Brazil
63. Golden Pavilion, Japan
- Working on it
64. Delphi, Greece
- Working on it
65. St. Basils Cathedral, Russia
66. Abu Simbel, Egypt
67. St Mark's Basilica, Italy
- Working on it
68. Florence Cityscape, Italy
- Working on it
69. Kremlin, Russia
70. Varanasi/Ganges, India
- Working on it
71. Li River Cruise, China
- Working on it
72. Shwedagon Stupa, Myanmar
- Working on it
73. Sahara Desert, Africa
- Working on it
74. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
- Working on it
75. Baalbek, Lebanon
- Unlikely
76. Mont St Michel, France
- Working on it
77. Topkapi Palace, Turkey
- Working on it
78. Carnival in Rio, Brazil
79. Stonehenge, UK
80. Angel Falls, Venezeula
- Working on it
81. Yellowstone NP, USA
- Working on it
82. Santorini, Greece
- Working on it
83. Matterhorn, Switzerland
- Working on it
84. New York Skyline, NY, USA
85. Marrakesh, Morocco
- Working on it
86. Eiffel Tower, France
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
87. Ladakh, India
- Working on it
88. Niagara Falls, US & Canada
89. British Museum, UK
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
90. Burj al Arab, Dubai
- Working on it
91. Yangtze Riv. Cruise, China
- Working on it
92. Yosemite NP, USA
- Working on it
93. Ayers Rock, Australia
- Working on it
94. Hermitage Museum, Russia
- Working on it
95. Chambord Chateau, France
- Working on it
96. Lijiang/Shangri La, China
- Working on it
97. Neuschwanstein, Germany
- Working on it
98. Banff NP, Canada
99. San Francisco, USA
- Working on it
100. Portofino, Italy
- Working on it
