unesco world heritage | Les Voyageurs

October 31, 2014October 16, 2014

Ta Prohm, Cambodia

Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara. Located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university.

We found the combination of trees growing out of the ruins nestled amongst the jungle and the Buddhist monks visiting made for an incredible atmospheric and photogenic visit of one of the most popular Angkor temples. UNESCO inscribed Ta Prohm on the World Heritage List in 1992.

The conservation and restoration of Ta Prohm is a partnership project of the Archaeological Survey of India and the APSARA (Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap)

October 20, 2014October 14, 2014

Walking on a Glacier in Patagonia – Perito Moreno, Argentina

Walking on a glacier is an amazing experience and doing it in one of the most rugged parts of Argentina with snow covered mountains during the Argentine spring highlighted the sheer natural beauty of this UNESCO World heritage listed national park. The Perito Moreno glacier is part of the Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz in Southern Argentina and is the Argentine part of Patagonia.

We took a boat on the Lake Argentino, which is 160 km long, to approach the glacier and along the way, we could hear the cracks and massive chunks of ice falling off.

We then went onto the glacier itself, using crampons to hike around the glacier. We probably saw every single shade of blue throughout the day as the sunlight refracted onto the glacier. Walking with crampons was not as hard as expected – going up the glacier with ice axes would have been a different thing! Just walking around, we saw crevasses, toboggan slides, little mini rivers forming around melting ice, making the whole adventure like walking around on a blue moonscape.

October 17, 2014October 14, 2014

Room with a View – Iguazu Falls in Argentina

As far as natural beauty goes, the Iguazu falls are certainly up there – the sheer size, sounds and its surroundings make it a very mesmerising place. The Iguazu Falls are part of the Iguazu national park, a UNESCO World heritage listed site, located in the Misiones region, in the Northeastern part of Argentina bordering with the Panana region in Brazil. The falls are up to 80 metres tall and span nearly 3 kilometres – the magnitude, size and power of the cascades can only be truly appreciated in person. The lush subtropical rainforest surroundings are host to varied wildlife birds, caymans and monkeys and several thousand plant species.

We went on a speed boat tour and the sprays of water and roaring sounds were unbelievable. There are great hikes as well around the national park. The falls are one of the largest and certainly one of the most amazing waterfalls in the world.

October 13, 2014October 7, 2014

Jour de marché in Cahors

Cahors is a medieval town situated on the banks of the Lot river and is the capital of the Lot département with about 20,000 inhabitants. Cahors was part of the Pilgrimage of St Jacques-de-Compostelle.

We cruised with our péniche (houseboat) on the Lot river and moored it in the centre of town, passing under the fortified Valentré bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, built-in the 14th century and visited the cathedral of Saint-Etienne also listed as a UNESCO World heritage site.

At the gates of the beautiful Saint-Etienne cathedral also a UNESCO World heritage site, twice weekly, you can find on Wednesdays and Saturdays the beautiful local market selling incredible local produce such as Rocamadour cheeses, foie gras, duck magrets and of course Cahors wine. Cahors is well-known for its ‘black’ wine which is a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Merlot. A powerful red, it marries perfectly with the rich local South West food.

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