World Heritage JourneyThe Gondwana Rainforests of Australia UNESCO World Heritage site covers a series of 51 national parks and nature reserves in eastern Australia. The 300,000+ hectares of this World Heritage Site includes most of Australia's remaining rainforest. And there's all sorts of rainforest here: subtropical, alpine, littoral, temperate, and more. It's just such a beautiful environment with a variety of trees, shrubs, vines, mosses, and waterfalls, plus of course some iconically Australian animals. For our visit we headed to several different areas, including Oxley-Wild Rivers National Park, Dorrigo National Park, New England National Park, Nightcap National Park, and Iluka Nature Reserve. Let's check it out!
Gondwana Rainforests of Australia - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-07-26 | The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia UNESCO World Heritage site covers a series of 51 national parks and nature reserves in eastern Australia. The 300,000+ hectares of this World Heritage Site includes most of Australia's remaining rainforest. And there's all sorts of rainforest here: subtropical, alpine, littoral, temperate, and more. It's just such a beautiful environment with a variety of trees, shrubs, vines, mosses, and waterfalls, plus of course some iconically Australian animals. For our visit we headed to several different areas, including Oxley-Wild Rivers National Park, Dorrigo National Park, New England National Park, Nightcap National Park, and Iluka Nature Reserve. Let's check it out!
Many thanks to Luke & Caitlyn of Inspired to Explore for generously allowing us to use some of their ground level footage from the national park. Be sure to check out their YouTube channel (youtube.com/channel/UC-89qCd3FmNrg7LeSMpzc1w), and their Instagram (instagram.com/inspired.to.explore) for more awesome outback adventures.
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Images (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, openstreetmap.org/copyright Thumbnail image by W. Bulach - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56242059Murujuga Cultural Landscape - TENTATIVE UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2021-10-24 | Murujuga Cultural Landscape is a Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site, located on the Burrup Peninsula in the Pilbara region of north western Australia. There's an estimated one million petroglyphs (rock carvings) here, with a variety of subjects including human figures, spiritual and religious carvings, and of course thousands of animals as well. It's a fascinating example of how animal populations in an area change over time, and showcases the genius of the local artists as they refined their techniques over the millennia.
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map images (C) OpenStreetMap Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright Some still images used under Creative Commons and Public DomainNingaloo Coast - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2021-09-01 | The Ningaloo Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site on Australia's north-western coastline is a spectacular blend of land and sea environments. There's three key aspects to this beautiful and unique UNESCO site: on land, the Cape Range National Park, where dry desert meets the Indian Ocean; in the water is the Ningaloo Marine Reserve and Ningaloo Reef; and the amazing range of biodiversity that lives and breeds in these waters - including the world's largest fish, the incredible Whale Shark. Let's have a look around!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Thumbnail image by MarAlliance2018 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71589328 Map images (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyrightShark Bay Conservation Area - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2021-07-11 | Shark Bay Conservation Area is a large marine reserve, located on the western edge of Australia. This unique UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring shallow and warm salty waters, is a fascinating spot. It's on the World Heritage List for three main reasons: the enormous banks of sea grass just under the surface, the spectacular diversity of marine life that lives in the Bay, like sharks, dolphins, turtles and dugongs (sea cows), and the incredible stromatolites, that were so crucial to the development of life on earth. Let's have a look around!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Australia map image (C) OpenStreetMap Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright Shark Bay map (C) Australian Government, used under Fair Use (Education)Flinders Ranges National Park - Tentative UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2021-06-23 | The incredible Flinders Ranges National Park in South Australia has recently been added to the Tentative UNESCO World Heritage List, and is hoping to achieve full World Heritage status in 2024. It's a magnificent landscape, and is extremely important to the story of evolution, with one of the world's richest deposits of pre-Cambrian life forms. The fossils found in the Flinders Ranges National Park area have given name to a new epoch, 650 million years ago: the Ediacaran. Let's have a closer look!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Vector icons courtesy of The Noun Project, www.thenounproject.com Map images (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0Willandra Lakes Region - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2021-04-14 | The Williandra Lakes Region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Australia. Located in New South Wales, this World Heritage Area is a Mixed site, important for both cultural and natural reasons. The centrepiece is Lake Mungo National Park, a large dry lake that's home to a spectacular sand dune, called the Lunette.
Thanks to the excellent preservation conditions, Lake Mungo is an excellent place for geology and archaeology, and it's where the remains of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady were both discovered. These well-preserved remains are the earliest known humans in Australia, and they revolutionised our understanding of Australian history. Let's go!
This video features several public domain materials from the U.S. Geological Survey, www.usgs.gov, including photos, videos and diagrams by: R.W. Decker, J.D. Griggs, R.B. Moore, Joel E Robinson, E.W. Wolfe, W.S. Wise, G.B. Dalrymple and various uncredited photos
Come along as we check out the most famous areas of the Blue Mountains, including the Three Sisters at Echo Point, Katoomba, Wentworth Falls, the Grose Valley, Govett's Leap and the Wollemi Pine. We also look at how things are recovering after the Australia bushfires of 2019 and 2020. Let's go!
Bushfire images used under CC-BY-SA 2.0, from: Pierre Markuse on Flickr, flickr.com/photos/pierre_markuseNgorongoro Conservation Area - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-05-31 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area is an amazing and beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tanzania. The Area consists of two main components: Ngorongoro Crater, and Oldupai Gorge (or Olduvai Gorge), both of which are interesting for their own reasons. The Ngorongoro Crater World Heritage Site is just incredible, with animals everywhere and beautiful African scenery as well. Oldupai Gorge is the spot where some of the oldest hominid fossils have been found, and it's a crucial site in modern paleontology and anthropology. Let's have a closer look!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Some map images (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright Some images by William Warby on Flickr, flickr.com/photos/wwarby/2405440942/in/photostream Great Rift Valley map By Redgeographics - CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57359214 Fossil bones image By McHenry, L, Njau, J, Pante, M and de la Torre, I 2012 - McHenry, L, Njau, J, Pante, M and de la Torre, I 2012. The Origins of the Acheulean at Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania): A New Paleoanthropological Project in East Africa. Archaeology International 15:89-98, doi:10.5334/ai.1505, CC BY 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27324844Serengeti National Park - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-05-24 | Serengeti National Park is an impressive and beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tanzania. Located in the north-west of Tanzania, the Serengeti is a huge area of iconic African landscapes: rolling hills, rocky outcrops, endless savanna, and thousands of animals. The Serengeti is most famous for the enormous wildebeest migration which we were lucky enough to see, but there's hundreds of other species to see as well. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, hyenas, buffalo, and literally hundreds more. Let's have a look around!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Tanzania Map image by Bamse - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2172384 Other map images (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyrightMount Kilimanjaro - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-05-17 | Mount Kilimanjaro is a beautiful and fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tanzania. Located along the northern border with Kenya, Kilimanjaro stands 5,895m above the savanna, making it the tallest mountain in Africa and the world's highest freestanding mountain. It's been a World Heritage Site since 1987 for its exceptional beauty, along with the varied climates and species found on its imposing flanks. A few years ago, before we started the World Heritage Journey, we decided to climb Kilimanjaro and experience its beauty for ourselves. Let's go climbing!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Thumbnail image By GG001213 - Own work, CC0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61222832 Map images (C) OpenStreetMap.org contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyrightTasmanian Wilderness - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-05-03 | The Tasmanian Wilderness is a beautiful and impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tasmania, Australia. Covering almost the entire western half of Tasmania, the Tasmanian Wilderness consists of seven National Parks and several nature preserves. It's such a special area that it satisfied seven of UNESCO's ten World Heritage criteria, more than any other site! The wilderness area is a beautiful showcase for Tasmania's unique plants and animals, and is home to temperate rainforests - a rarity for the southern hemisphere. Let's have a closer look!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map images (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright Icons made by Vectors Market from www.flaticon.com Ping SFX by edsward on FreeSound.org, freesound.org/people/edswardAustralian Convict Sites - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-04-26 | The Australian Convict Sites is an interesting and historic UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in various places around Australia. This site traces the convict history of Australia, highlighting the living conditions, employment, punishment and management of Australia's convicts, who arrived between 1788 and 1868. Come along as we visit: 0:00 Port Arthur, Tasmania 04:28 Convict Coal Mines, Tasmania 05:26 Brickendon-Woolmers Estates Complex, Tasmania 07:01 Old Government House, Sydney, NSW 08:47 Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney, NSW
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright First Fleet manifest, collection of the State Library of NSW Image of Francis Greenway, collection of the State Library of NSWUluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-04-19 | Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a famous and awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage Site located in central Australia. Formerly known as Ayer's Rock, Uluru is an enormous red sandstone monolith that rises 348m above the surrounding desert, while nearby Kata Tjuta is a similar domed sandstone rock formation. Uluru is an icon of Australia, and genuinely one of the most impressive World Heritage Sites I've ever visited. But it's not just spectacular, it's also a Mixed World Heritage Site, as it's sacred to the local Anangu indigenous people. Come along as we explore both the incredible beauty of Uluru-Kata Tjuta, and its rich cultural heritage as well!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map image (C) OpenStreetMap Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright Blue Tongue Lizard Image via Rod Waddington on Flickr, flickr.com/photos/rod_waddington, CC-BY-SA 2.0Australian Fossil Mammal Sites - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-04-12 | The Australian Fossil Mammal Sites at Riversleigh and Naracoorte are an interesting and thought-provoking UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located at Riversleigh in outback northern Queensland and Naracoorte in South Australia are two large fossil beds containing the bones of ancient mammals, many of which are long extinct from Australia. For our visit, we headed to Naracoorte, where several caves hold fascinating glimpses of the past. Let's check it out!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map image (C) OpenStreetMap Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyrightBudj Bim Cultural Landscape - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-04-05 | Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is an unusual and intriguing UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in Victoria in southern Australia, it's Australia's first cultural World Heritage Site entirely dedicated to indigenous culture. The site centres around the local Gunditjmara tribe, who used the ancient lava channels of the area to construct channels and canals for fish farming. The setup allowed the Gunditjmara peoples to settle permanently in the area, rather than the hunter-gatherer lifestyle common among Australia's indigenous people. Let's check it out.
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map image (c) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyrightRoyal Exhibition Building - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-03-29 | The Royal Exhibition Building is a fascinating and unique UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Melbourne, Australia. Constructed in the 1880s, the Royal Exhibition Building is one of the last grand exhibition buildings still remaining in the world. It dates from a time when Melbourne was one of the world's richest cities, and held an exhibition on par with the great Exhibitions of the northern hemisphere like London, Paris, and Chicago. Since then it's been used for a variety of other purposes, and it's absolutely gorgeous both inside and out. Let's have a closer look!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright Interior images (C) Stewart Donn and Museums Victoria, used with permissionShrines and Temples of Nikko - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-03-22 | The Shrines and Temples of Nikko are a fascinating and beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan. Located near Tokyo in central Japan, the three main shrines and temples here are a testament to Japanese art, architecture and culture. Interestingly, the complex is a mix of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, which fits with the not-overly-religious culture of Japan. There's a lot of great stuff to see here at the three main sights of Futarasan, Tosho-gu and Rinno-ji, so let's check it out!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyrightTomioka Silk Mill - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-03-15 | Tomioka Silk Mill is an interesting and unusual UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan. Located to the north of Tokyo, Tomioka Silk Mill is a great example of Japan's rapid industrialisation in the late 19th century. The facility was built as a joint Japanese-French project, and managed every aspect of silk production: from raising silkworms, unspooling their cocoons, and spinning the threads into raw silk. There's also a host of related factory buildings including dormitories, the power plant, and much more besides. Let's check it out!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright #unesco #worldheritagesite #japan #visitjapanShirakami-Sanchi - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-03-08 | Shirakami-Sanchi is a beautiful and remote UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan. Located in northern Honshu, the site is a large area of mountain forest and almost completely undisturbed by humans. It's considered to be one of the last remaining undeveloped areas of land in all of Japan, and is a very beautiful environment. Unfortunately we didn't have the greatest weather during our visit, but we still very much enjoyed it! Let's go.
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright #unesco #worldheritagesite #visitjapan #japanHiraizumi - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-03-05 | Hiraizumi is an unusual and fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan. Located north of Tokyo, Hiraizumi is a collection of shrines, temples and gardens associated with "pure land" Buddhism - a teaching around the belief that the mortal world will always be corrupt, and that one should strive for rebirth in a higher plane, a Pure Land. The highlight here is the beautiful Motsu-ji with its beautiful lake, and Chosun-ji with the incredible golden Konjiki-do.
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright #unesco #worldheritagesite #visitjapan #japanMount Fuji - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-03-02 | Fujisan, or Mount Fuji, is Japan's most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in central Japan, about 150km west of Tokyo, Mount Fuji stands nearly 3800m above the sea. We didn't have the best weather for our vist, but what's interesting is that Mount Fuji is a World Heritage Site for both its incredible natural beauty, and the revered position it holds in Japanese culture and society. Join us as we explore both the beautiful mountain, and the incredible works of art that it has inspired over the centuries!
Credits: Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright Thumbnail image c/o GoodFreePhotos.com Mt Fuji at Dusk c/o Liger Pham @ Pexels, pexels.com/photo/mt-fuji-japan-1108701 Numazo and Mount Fuji by Alpsdake - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56296230 The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai - Own work, Public Domain, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2646210 Man'yoshu Image by Association of Cultural Properties - Portfolio of National tresures Volume 3rd, Association of Cultural Properties, Tokyo, 1955-03-20, Public Domain, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15533093 Mount Fuji and Cherry Blossoms, By Midori - Own work, CC BY 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10283874 Mount Fuji from the air, by Joe Jones from Tokyo, Japan - Mount Fuji, CC BY 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2831386 Torii near the summit of Mount Fuji 2015, By Z3144228 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61926165 #unesco #worldheritagesite #japan #visitjapanHistoric Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-02-28 | The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are fascinating and unique UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan. Located in a small and isolated mountain valley, these small villages are unique in Japan thanks to their gassho, or "prayer-hands" style roof construction. This unusual design allowed for strength against the wind, management of heavy winter snowfall, and maximised the amount of housing space available on the small local plots of land. It's a beautiful spot, so let's go exploring!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, openstreetmap.org/copyright Shirakawa-go at Night, By Yoshiyuki Ito - Imported from 500px (archived version) by the Archive Team. (detail page), CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71468422 Shirakawa-go in the snow, By Takashi Hososhima from Tokyo, Japan - Shirakawago village and snowy mountain, CC BY-SA 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40586636 #unesco #worldheritagesite #japanHistoric Monuments of Ancient Kyoto - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-02-25 | The Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto is an incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan. Located in Kyoto, the cultural and spiritual heart of Japan, this site covers a number of shrines, temples and pavilions across the ancient city. For our visit, we focused our attention on some of the most important spots: the amazing Kinkaku-ji, Temple of the Golden Pavilion, one of the most famous temples in Japan. Ryoan-ji, Temple of the Dragon at Peace, with its remarkable and tranquil rock garden. And of course, Tenryu-ji, the famous temple with its beautiful pond. Enjoy!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright Historic Kyoto Images: by Toyoharu Utagawa - 1. here, 2. Ukiyo-e.org [1], Public Domain, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2550327 #unesco #worldheritagesite #kyotoHistoric Monuments of Ancient Nara - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-02-22 | The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara is an incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the beautiful city of Nara, central Japan. The site covers many of Nara's temples, including highlights like Todai-ji, Kasuga Grand Shrine, Kofoku-ji, and of course Nara's famous deer park. Come along with us as we explore the heritage of this beautiful and intriguing ancient capital of Japan!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright #unesco #worldheritagesite #naraBuddhist Monuments of the Horyu-ji Area - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-02-19 | The Buddhist Monuments of the Horyu-ji Area are a fascinating and beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the city of Nara, ancient capital of Japan, the highlight here is the world's oldest wooden building, the incredible Horyuji Pagoda. It dates back to the 6th century and is marginally older than the second-oldest wooden building in the world, the nearby Hondo, or main hall. The rest of the compound is also very interesting, so let's go exploring!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright #unesco #worldheritagesite #visitjapanSacred Sites in the Kii Mountain Range - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-02-16 | The Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Trails in the Kii Mountain Range is an interesting and beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan. This site covers a series of shrines, temples, and pilgrimage routes in the Kii Mountain Range area of central Japan, south of Osaka. The famous Kumano Kodo hike is one of the best known parts. Although we'd hoped to visit several of the shrines and do some hiking ourselves, Typhoon Hagibis slammed into Japan during our visit and threw our plans into chaos! Unfortunately we were only able to visit one temple, which left us both disappointed and excited to return in the future.
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright Typhoon Hagibis tracking image (C) NHK World-Japan, fair use (news reporting), www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/714 Cemetery Image by Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada - Choishi Path - Okunoin Cemetery - Koyasan - Japan - 11, CC BY-SA 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79667104 #unesco #worldheritagesite #kiimountainrangeMounded Tombs of Ancient Japan - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-02-13 | The Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan are a fascinating and unique UNESCO World Heritage site. Located in the city of Osaka in central Japan, these tombs date back to the 4th and 6th centuries AD. They're also quite peculiar in that they're keyhole shaped, with a high mound attached to a rectangular ditch at one end. And the largest tomb is absolutely colossal, one of the largest tombs in the entire world! It's so large, the best way to view it is actually from an aircraft arriving or departing Osaka airport - not quite in our budget, but come along as we attempt the next best thing!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org/copyright #unesco #worldheritagesite #japanHimeji Castle - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-02-10 | Himeji Castle is an incredibly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site in Japan. Located in the city of Himeji, the castle was originally founded in 1333, but during the 17th century was transformed into the iconic fortress that we know and love today. Built mostly of wood and plaster, everything about the castle from its layout to its grounds to the internal structure was designed to withstand a siege. And although it was never tested in medieval ground combat, it survived a pair of direct bomb hits during World War 2, the massive 1995 Kobe earthquake, and even being sold off for scrap in the 19th century. Today, it stands as Japan's largest and best-known castle; let's have a look!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness White Egret Image by Subho Md Dali from Pixabay, pixabay.com/users/5608599-5608599 Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, openstreetmap.org/copyright #unesco #worldheritagesite #himejicastleHiroshima Peace Memorial - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-02-07 | Hiroshima Peace Memorial is a somber and moving UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known in Japanese as Genbaku Dome, or A-Bomb Dome, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial is the remains of Industrial Promotion Hall, an exhibition hall designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel and opened in 1915. Located almost exactly underneath the atomic bomb explosion of August 1945, it was one of the only buildings to survive the enormous blast. Since then, it has stood as a memorial to the 140,000+ victims of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.
Music: Bensound.com - Better Days Atomic Bomb images public domain #unesco #worldheritagesite #hiroshimaItsukushima Shinto Shrine - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-02-04 | The Itsukushima Shinto Shrine is one of the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan. Located just near the city of Hiroshima, Itsukushima is home to a famous floating "torii" or gateway, located at the entrance to the shrine. Despite its popularity, the shrine is among Shinto's most revered and sacred places, and it makes for a fascinating place to explore. Let's have a look around!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Itsukushima Gate thumbnail image by Jordy Meow - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30863836 Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org Other torii images used under CC-BY-SA-2.5, www.all-free-photos.com.Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-02-01 | The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine is an interesting and unusual UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in Shimane Prefecture on the south-west of Japan's mainland, Iwami Ginzan was Japan's largest silver mine and operated from 1526 through until 1923. Industrial heritage sites are always intriguing, and we had a lot of fun here exploring the old mine tunnels, but also checking out the beautiful village clustered around the mine as well. Let's have a look!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Images (C) OpenStreetMap.org contributors, www.openstreetmap.org Virgin Mary Image By PHGCOM - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5681781Sites of Japans Meiji Industrial Revolution - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-01-26 | This UNESCO World Heritage Site is covers a fascinating part of Japanese history. For two hundred years, Japan's shogunate government kept the country isolated from the west. But in 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry forced open the government to foreign trade, using what's known as gunboat diplomacy. Within a decade, the government had collapsed and the Meiji Emperor restored as the sole ruler of Japan. Fearing colonisation by the West, Japan's new rulers embarked on a massive modernisation and industrialisation program, building railroads, factories, coal mines, dockyards, and much more besides. Much of this activity was concentrated in western Japan, around the city of Nagasaki, where we explored the 19th century Mitsubishi dockyards, and the famous Hashima coal mine island, also known as Battleship Island.
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Images (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org Dejima in Nagasaki Bay, Image CC-BY-SA-3.0 by PHGCOM on Wikimedia Commons, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:PHGCOM All other images Public DomainSacred Island of Okinoshima - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-01-23 | The Sacred Island of Okinoshima is a fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan. Covering a series of sacred Shinto shrines, the sacred island itself is about halfway between Japan and Korea and is entirely off-limits, populated only by a single Shinto monk who spends his time praying, meditating and guarding the island. Also included in this entry on the World Heritage List are several other Shinto shrines, including Okitsu-miya and Nakatsu-miya on the nearby island of Oshima, and Hetsu-miya on the mainland. Let's go exploring!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.orgHaeinsa Temple and Koreana Tripitaka - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-01-20 | Haeinsa Temple is a beautiful and fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site. The largest and most important Buddhist monastery in Korea, it's also home to one of the world's most incredible cultural artifacts: the Koreana Tripitaka. The Koreana Tripitaka is collection of the Tripitaka, the Buddhist scriptures, carved in Chinese into an immense collection of 84,000 woodblocks. The work dates back to the 13th century, and sits in a purpose-built storage facility at Haeinsa Temple. Although you aren't allowed to see the original woodblocks themselves as they're too precious, we were able to stay overnight at the temple, meditating, praying and eating with the monks, and doing various activities related to the Tripitaka. Let's check it out!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org contributors, www.openstreetmap.org CC-BY-SA-4.0Gyeongju Historic Areas - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-01-17 | The Gyeongju Historic Areas UNESCO World Heritage site is both interesting and unusual, as it focuses on the remains of the Silla Kingdom in southern Korea. The Silla ruled this area of Korea for almost a thousand years, and this site explore their Buddhist legacy. Let's take a closer look!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.org, CC-BY-SA-4.0Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-01-14 | Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple is a fascinating and unique UNESCO World Heritage Site. The two aspects of this site - the grotto and the temple - both relate to the long-lost Silla Kingdom, which ruled southern Korea for almost a thousand years between the 1st and 10th centuries AD, and was the first kingdom to unify the Korean peninsula. This World Heritage site explores their Buddhist legacy, so let's check it out!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors - www.openstreetmap.orgSansa: Buddhist Mountain Monasteries - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-01-11 | Sansa are Buddhist Mountain Monasteries, UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in various spots around South Korea. Set in beautiful and isolated locations, the Sansa have existed in Korea for hundreds and hundreds of years. Although most of them have long disappeared, some are still in existence and still in use. Come along with us as we explore the Sansa of Bongjeongsa, near the city of Andong in South Korea.
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Image (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.orgHistoric Villages of Korea: Hahoe and YangdongWorld Heritage Journey2020-01-08 | The Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong is a fascinating and beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site. Covering two separate ancient villages in central South Korea, Hahoe and Yangdong, the villages both date back to the 15th century and have been continually inhabited since that time. For our visit we chose to focus on the village of Hahoe, so let's go exploring!
Music: Bensound.com - HappinessSeowon, Neo-Confucian Academies of Korea - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2020-01-05 | Seowon are Neo-Confucian academies, basically a sort of religious school for Confucians, and it makes for a very interesting UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Korea. Although there were once hundreds of Seowon dotted across Korea, many of them have been lost to time. This entry on the World Heritage List covers nine Seowon Neo-Confucian academies, all of which are in great condition. For our visit, we focused on one of the best: Byeongsan Seowon located near Andong in the north-east of South Korea. Let's go!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map images (C) OpenStreetMap.org Contributors, www.openstreetmap.orgNamhansanseong - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2019-12-27 | Namhansanseong Fortress is an interesting and unusual UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the mountains near Seoul in South Korea, Namhansanseong was designed to be an emergency, backup fortress, so that the government could retreat here and continue functioning in times of war and civil disturbance. Although many of the buildings have been damaged over the centuries, Namhansanseong still has some interesting secrets to explore. Let's have a look!
Music: Bensound.com - Happiness Map Images (C) OpenStreetMap.org ContributorsBaekje Historic Areas - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2019-12-24 | The Baekje Historic Areas is an interesting and unusual UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers eight locations and three cities across South Korea, with ruins and remains of the Baekje Kingdom, which ruled Korea for 600 years, through to the 6th century AD. To explore this site we visited the city of Gongju, home to Gongsanseong Fortress and some royal tombs. Let's go!
Music: Bensound.com - HappinessRoyal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2019-12-21 | The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty is an interesting UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although several locations of royal tombs are included on the World Heritage List, we chose to visit the Donggureong tomb cluster on the outskirts of Seoul, where 17 kings and queens from the Joseon dynasty are buried. The highlight here was the immense tomb of the Joseon's founding father, King Taejo, but it also gave a fantastic insight into Joseon and Confucian funeral practices. Let's check it out!
Music: Bensound.com - HappinessJongmyo Shrine - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2019-12-18 | Jongmyo Shrine is a unique and interesting UNESCO World Heritage site in Seoul, South Korea. Founded in the 14th century, it's an ancient Confucian shrine dedicated to members of the Joseon royal dynasty which ruled Korea for 600 years. There's some really cool stuff to see here, and it gives a great insight into the worship and religious practices of Korea's most important dynasty. Let's have a look!
Music: Bensound.com - HappinessChangdeokgung Palace Complex - UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Journey2019-12-15 | Changdeokgung Palace Complex is a beautiful and fascinating UNESCO World Heritage site. Located in central Seoul, South Korea, it was the preferred palace of the Joseon dynasty who ruled Korea for over 600 years. There's lots of really interesting stuff to see here, including the throne room, gatehouses, the royal residences, and our favourite area: the Secret Garden. Let's have a closer look!