Places xavierdesilets Wants to Go

This Colombo wetland is an unlikely wildlife haven just outside the capital city.

One of the few places where inexperienced snorkelers can spot a shark.

Huge herds of Asian elephants can be seen walking, bathing, and just chilling at this Sri Lankan park.

You can still find treasures on the pebbly beaches of one of the world's oldest jade-producing areas.

White beach sands made of the remains of tiny, star shaped creatures.

Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

A Japanese cat island also populated by the descendants of a band of banished samurai.

This mesmerizingly colorful pond looks like a scene straight out of a fairytale.

Japanese island famous for poison gas and fluffy bunnies.

This Japanese national treasure was originally built in 593.

Bioluminescent firefly squid light up this Japanese fishing port.

A beautiful, dense forest in the shadow of Mount Fuji, with a tragic reputation.

The world's largest ginkgo tree contains a hollow so large a man once lived in it for two years.

The so-called "Richest Village In China" is either a model Communist town or a dystopian sham.

An impactful museum ensures notorious war crimes disguised as "medical experimentation" won't soon be forgotten.

The world's largest statue of Mao Zedong looks out over the city where he discovered Communism.

The once highest point in China blends symbolic design with a kick of adrenaline.

These tiny statues form a terracotta army from China's Han dynasty.

Two ancient Buddhist temples crown this dramatic rocky pinnacle.

A tunnel dug through the side of a mountain by hand provides convenient yet death-defying access to a small village in China.

Natural arch offers panoramic views of Yangshuo's karst hills.

Snow-capped peaks, colorful waterfalls and stunning vistas on the edge of the Himalayas.

Where the Great Wall of China meets the sea.

270 million year-old forest of stone.