Sometimes you just have to use bold or CAPS letters to make something stand out. Certain things, no matter how eloquent a writer you are…require help.
When it comes to the world’s biggest, largest, oldest, ugliest lists, usually you can really on the natural curiosity of people to visit your attraction (or read your story in this case).
But when your attraction is…a stone, well how exciting can that be?
Actually, the giant stone of Lebanon was fairly impressive. Beforehand I did question the validity of said stone, as I’ve seen giant buddhas in Sri Lanka and the giant Moai on Easter Island. This was, maybe larger than those, but maybe not. Plus, this is just a blocky shaped stone, woo hoo. The one advantage it had over other large stone-y things? You can climb on it!
So Lebanon has claim to the world’s largest stone. Is that enough to make you book a flight to Beirut and seek it out? Probably not. Luckily Lebanon does have many other worthwhile attractions. But, back to the stone.
A mighty stone it is. At well over 1000 tons in weight, it is a monster. The stone is sometimes called the ‘stone of the pregnant woman’ and was cut around 2000 years ago for use at a temple in Baalbeck, but it was never completed. Perhaps the workers realized they had no feasible way to carry or move this giant stone to the temple?
On its own, it is not much, but when you visit the nearby ancient ruins of Baalbeck, it helps bring the site to life and put things into perspective in terms of the dedication, effort and talent that went into building such an impressive . Many who’ve visited Roman ruins throughout Greece, Lebanon and surrounding countries hail Baalbeck as among the most impressive Roman ruins in the world, and with that, I have to agree. A pretty bold statement perhaps, but at least now you might be more inclined to also visit the largest stone in the world to find out for yourself.
Stone of the Pregnant Woman - Baalbeck, LebanonLargest Stone in the World - Baalbeck, Lebanon
Travel triangles seem pretty popular. Maybe it’s a sneaky way to trap tourists into visiting a triage of destinations? Or maybe they’re all legit attractions in their own rite. Some, like the Bermuda triangle are surrounded with mystery and intrigue, some are natural wonders and others are culturally significant attractions. Whatever their role, the most impressive travel triangle I have enjoyed visiting is the cultural triangle in the interior of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle
This travel triangle of ancient sites provides a glimpse into the history of Sri Lanka. All vastly different in appearance, and spread out across the country, the cultural sites of Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura make up the main attractions, however the Dambulla caves and Mihintale mountain are also worth visiting, as is the city of Kandy which serves as the southern border to this triangle.
Anuradhapura's Great Thupa called Ruwanvalisaaya
Anuradhapura, is the most northern tip of the triangle, in central Sri Lanka. Once the capital of Sri Lanka, this ancient city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mostly in ruins, some stupas remain in great condition and there are finely detailed carvings, stones and paintings around the area.
This is a major pilgrimage site for Buddhism as the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree is found here. This sacred fig tree was planted nearly 2300 years ago, making it the oldest known planted tree in the world. This Bodhi tree is believed to have been planted from part of the tree in which the Buddha achieved enlightenment. When I visited there were literally hundreds of young monks visiting the site, most for the first time. It was fun to watch the young monks laugh and have fun at a place of such spiritual importance.
The Reclining Buddha, part of Gal Vihare at Polonnaruwa
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Polonnaruwa lies further east, in central Sri Lanka and is most famously known for it’s rock carvings and statues.
The rock temple of Gal Vihara is a collection of Buddha carvings, with the giant reclining Buddha being one of the most famous sites in all of Sri Lanka. There is a lot more to see here too, so staying a night or two in the modern, clean city of Polonnaruwa is well worth it. The ruins are nearby and a great way to get around to see the ancient sites is to rent a bicycle.
Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka
Finally, Sigiriya, my favourite must-visit destination along the cultural triangle route. Lying further south in Central Sri Lanka, Sigiriya enjoys greener, more natural surroundings. As you approach the area, the landscape is mainly flat grasslands, until you see this one giant rock. Once a strategicaly important rock fortress, Sigiriya is also known as Lion Rock as the gateway to climb to the peak of the rock was once carved in the shape of a huge lion. Today, only the giant carved lion paws remain.
There are beautiful gardens and walking paths in the area, and as you climb Sigiriya, you’ll spot some of the best rock paintings in all of Sri Lanka. There is also a strangely interesting mirror wall. This rock wall was once polished so finely that you could see your reflection on it! Views from the top of Sigiriya are worth the effort of climbing the steep stairs bolted into the rock.
Other stops along the route. The Golden Buddha is massive! It is close to the entrance to the Dambulla caves. The Temple of the Tooth is in Kandy, and is said to house an actual tooth from Buddha. Worth visiting if you can handle the crowds and heat – you only get a fleeting, obstructed glimpse of the tooth at certain times of the day. Mihintale is a climb and a half. Lots of stairs up to the top of a mountain but well worth, it especially at sunset. You might just catch a monk or two hanging around on top of the mountain too.
Jetavana Stupa at AnuradhapuraElephant rock carving at PolonnaruwaA well-preserved fresco at Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Giant Golden Buddha near the Dambulla CavesTemple of the Tooth, KandyA Monk giving blessings atop Aradhana Gala at Mihintale
While Sri Lanka may be rich in cultural history, the country also boasts an abundance of wildlife, including leopards, bears and elephants. If you like hot, spicy food then you’ll also love Sri Lanka!
Enjoying a ‘sundowner’ or two in Africa after a day of game viewing is a long standing tradition; and beer is often the drink of choice.
Beer and Cards at South Luangwa National Park
Tusker from Kenya and Castle from South Africa may be well known outside of their home territories, but for anyone who is headed to southern or eastern Africa on a safari, here is my list of top 17 beers to seek out at sundowner time. The only caveat I throw in here is that THB is not the best tasting beer. It deserves to be in the middle of this list, but it is my sentimental favourite, thus gets special treatment. (I’d love to get my hands on some more if anyone knows where to find it in Canada or the US!)
If trying 17 different beers while you’re on safari is a bit too ambitious, stick to the top nine, as they’re a great mix of styles of tastes. Anything below Kuche Kuche was satisfying and thirst-quenching, but after months of ‘research’ on my travels around Africa I can say you won’t be missing out on much if you skip over them.
THB or Three Horses Beer pilsener, from Madagascar
Laurentina Preta, a dunkel from Mozambique
Castle Milk Stout, from South Africa
Hansa pilsener, from Namibia
Mosi lager, from Zambia
Carlsberg brown, a dark lager from Malawi
Windhoek lager, from Namibia
Ndovu lager, from Tanzania
Kuche Kuche lager by Carlsberg, from Malawi
Ice pilsner, from Tanzania
Tusker lager, from Kenya
Safari lager, from Tanzania
Carlsberg lager, from Malawi
Queen lager, from Madagascar
Serengeti lager, from Tanzania
Kilimanjaro lager, from Tanzania
Castle lager, from South Africa
Happy drinking in Africa. Did I miss your favourite African beer? Let me know!
Easter Island (Rap Nui) is one of those places I’d gladly return to. Full of mystery, peaceful and isolated. This Moai (the name for the rock statues everywhere on the island) was one of my favourites. It is the only kneeling Moai on the island, found on the outer side of Rano Raraku crater. The way the clouds are formed in the sky, made me think this Moai was deep in thought…the stories he would tell, if only he could talk.
Madagascar is the country that is responsible for my travel obsession and interest in travel photography. I had a cheap camera back then, but it didn’t matter as the memories from that trip in 2001 are still vivid today. Here is one snap I took at the Tsiribihina River, as our trusty truck was carefully loaded onto a make shift barge. Notice that the barge is otherwise empty…I had grown accustomed to a certain level of chaos as locals tended to stampede and crowd around bridges and barges everywhere else we went. Thankfully the truck passed the ‘will it float’ test, and shortly after the mayhem ensued, with everyone vying for a coveted spot on the shady side of the barge, thanks to our truck’s shadow.
