Places tstriegel Wants to Go

The first and only planetarium in Sri Lanka.

This sacred fig tree with a link to the Buddha is one of the oldest human-planted trees in the world.

A neglected bell tower in modern Colombo is a symbol of the city's colonial past.

This fort dates back to 1588 and was colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch, and English and sits prominently on the Indian Ocean where azure water lap the coast.

These abandoned ruins in the middle of Jaffna have withstood centuries of tumultuous power struggles.

Spend the night inside a two-story elephant villa.

The remains of a 37,000-year-old prehistoric society were discovered in this mammoth cave, one of the largest in Asia.

According to Hindu belief, this shallow island chain was created by a god with an army of monkeys.

Seven beautiful 1,000-year-old rock-cut Buddhist statues.

The ruins of this old church are slowing sinking into the sand.

Pettah's beautiful floating market was once a stinky canal in a sketchy industrial area.

This mesmerizing architectural wonder will take your breath away with its unusual color patterns.

Known as the most scenic route in Sri Lanka, this train line is steeped in history and offers an unparalleled view of the country.

A military fort has guarded the surrounding area from this key position since the 13th century.

A forgotten and crumbling Yugoslav monument to the victims of fascism.

This historic cemetery was inaccessible for several years due to dozens of land mines.

Oriental bazaar in the heart of Sarajevo.

This museum preserves the hand-dug tunnel that kept Sarajevo afloat during the Serbian siege.

This top-secret nuclear bunker hidden in a Bosnian mountain has been converted to a modern art exhibition space.

There's a mini version of Iguazu Falls hidden in the Balkans, and it's got a rope swing.

The inspiration for the Patagonia Clothing logo, Cerro Fitz Roy turns pink at sunrise.

Stenciled handprints and wall paintings dating back 10,000 years, some of the earliest forms of cave art.

A series of waterfalls so massive they straddle the border of Argentina and Brazil.

This historic, palatial theater is now one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores.