Places Added by Max Cortesi

One of the longest natural sand beaches in the world.

The Thai Army has dug deep trenches along the Thai/Myanmar border to prevent drug smuggling.

This elegant carving of the Buddha guards a small Buddhist temple within a cave.

Designed to serve primarily the Maharaja, this is an interesting variation on the traditional stepped well.

Monks turned this mountain into a temple by digging grottoes, tunnels, and a huge pagoda-like hall.

The ruins of a medieval monastery built on a perilous slope.

The tallest minaret in Yemen is 150 feet high and entirely made of mud.

A gorgeous stone viaduct crosses over a bucolic valley.

An exquisite example of Uyghur Islamic architecture.

One of Yemen’s oldest and most beautiful mosques was named for the incredible, historical queen buried inside it.

A haunting place that is now home to thousands of birds.

A surprisingly large and sturdy ruin on the outskirts of a remote village.

This colonial fort is an intriguing example of Renaissance military architecture.

A superb spot to appreciate the traditional boats of the Indian Ocean.

This extremely remote border crossing was closed to prevent smuggling and looting.

An outstanding piece of retro Sci-Fi architecture built into a sacred mountain.

History, geography, and shamanism meet in this eye-catching monument to the greatness of three empires.

The remains of an ancient city-state along the Silk Road.

Dedicated to a Bolshevik revolutionary, this museum is a true time capsule of the Soviet era.

Built entirely of interlocking pieces, construction of this Chinese Muslim house of worship required zero nails.

This village was once a thriving Soviet uranium mining center, but is now semi-abandoned and desolate.

A building facade covered with the statues of 11 giants of Tajik literature.

An unusual monument to a gentle giant who became a Kyrgyz hero.

This ancient Silk Road outpost overlooking the Wakhan Valley is miraculously still standing.