Top Ten Wonders- your list

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03-Sep-2009, 10:00 PM
Migflanker

29Palms: "Why don't we compile a listing of say TOP TEN WONDERS on YOUR LIST. Somebody start a new string, give information. I think some of those hidden few known places offers surprises and wonders. "

My Top Natural Wonders:

Grand Canyon--- watching the sun set over the Grand Canyon is one of my most memorable travel experiences and something I highly recommmend.
Northern Lights
Victoria Falls
Galapagos Islands
Great Barrier Reef
Serengeti Migration
Niagara Falls
Kilauea Volcano--- Watching hot lava inch it's way toward the ocean and watching the steam plumes as the lava hit the water. Another one of my most memorable travel experiences.
The Dead Sea
Thunderstorm over the Great Plains--- We were traveling on a lonely two-lane highway through New Mexico. The sky grew progressive darker, the temperatue dropped and down came sheets of golf size hailstones that pounded the car. We pulled over to the side of the road not another vehicle in sight. The headlights illuminated the road and we could see the hailstones piling up, then came the pounding rain and thunder claps.
Flashes of lightining illunimated the red sandstone cliffs around us; and the whole scene looked like one of those great Ansel Adams photos.
05-Sep-2009, 02:09 AM
Nick

Wow I really have a lot of places left to see, don't I. The hail sounds cool, I still remember my first hailstorm and tornado warning when I lived in TX - such a foreign concept to me living here. Mrs767 always talks about interesting places... maybe it'd be good to work at DL http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/cool.gif I miss being able to nonrev for free as we still pay (slightly under) ZED even on CX.

Barrier reef hey... just doesn't interest me. But I guess that's because it is so close, which makes it in the too easy basket? Or because I don't dive. My friend at WN is always trying to get me to start diving.. seems expensive though.
05-Sep-2009, 08:03 AM
29palms

Migflanker, I like some on your list like
GALAPAGOS
NIAGRA FALLS
I wouldn't mind checking out EASTER ISLAND
TIMBUKTU
TIBET

But you know what too? Where there is such a list of beauty, it suddenly becomes a TOURIST TRAP. Some of those Pacific Islands little mentioned or known about is probably a great bet for visiting. I mentioned NAN MADOL in POHNPEI ISLAND. The Venice of the Pacific. Great water falls. I haven't been but wouldn't mind checking it out. There is YAP, PALAU, CHUUK, KOSRAE. In the South Pacific, around the MARQUESES, TAHITI, SAMOA, TONGA each with hidden secrets, such as cliffs, waterfalls, beaches, mountains, coral reefs, sunshine all year around, uninhabited islands and very little spoiled by tourism. Excellent snorkeling and diving, great fishing. Maybe not a top natural wonder but a place to get away from it all definately.
05-Sep-2009, 01:55 PM
Migflanker

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nick @ Sep 5 2009, 12:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

I still remember my first hailstorm and tornado warning when I lived in TX - such a foreign concept to me living here.

Barrier reef hey... just doesn't interest me. But I guess that's because it is so close, which makes it in the too easy basket? Or because I don't dive. My friend at WN is always trying to get me to start diving.. seems expensive though.[/b]

Yeah, there's just something relaxing about watching a thunderstorm rolling in on the Plains.

Nick, it's so interesting that you, living in Melbourne, have never been to the Great Barrier reef, and here I am willing to suffer 15 hours in coach just to see it. Guess it's true what they say - you seldom appreciate what you have in your own back yard. I know I don't.
Example- My first time vistors to LA always want to see Hollywood- Walk Of Fame. I tell them there's nothting to see, the area around Grauman's is a tourst trap with nothing but a few" hand & footprints" in concrete, some little brass stars in the sidewalk and a few people dressed up (in homemade outfits) as celebrites and movie characters. But, they just have to go. So I load up the car, drive down to Hollywood, pay to park, pay some panhandler dressed as "Captain Jack" to take a photo with us and then take photos of feet next to a brass star. And this, believe or not, is rated as a highlight of their trip to LA. You would not believe the number of photos I have of feet/shoes next to John Wayne's footprints. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...>/rolleyes.gif http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif
05-Sep-2009, 02:08 PM
Migflanker

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (29Palms @ Sep 5 2009, 06:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

But you know what too? Where there is such a list of beauty, it suddenly becomes a TOURIST TRAP.[/b]

Right you are Palms, sadly, tourism often destroys the rare and the beautiful. Tourism Threatens To Destroy Galapagos
06-Sep-2009, 07:27 AM
vulindlela

Yosemite
Zion
Pyramids of Giza
Niagara Falls
Everglades
Lake Tahoe
Grand Canyon

These are my favorites that I have visited.

I do love a good Midwest thunderstorm though also!
06-Sep-2009, 08:00 AM
Nick

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Migflanker @ Sep 6 2009, 04:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

Nick, it's so interesting that you, living in Melbourne, have never been to the Great Barrier reef, and here I am willing to suffer 15 hours in coach just to see it.[/b]

Good point. Just like you do Hollywood, I see the GBR as a tourist trap. But also ZEDs on QF aren't that cheap, nor are confirmed tix, so people tend to say well if i'm going to pay that much I may as well go overseas. Fair enough I say... it's important to learn about other cultures rather than just your own. I'll get there one day though... i'd like to roadtrip Australia.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Migflanker @ Sep 6 2009, 04:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

Example- My first time vistors to LA always want to see Hollywood- Walk Of Fame[/b]

Haha I want to see that! Aside from in-n-out runs, there have only been two times I ventured out of LAX. One was to go to see some friends at some persons apartment in who knows where and eat Korean. The other was when I first went there and stayed in Motel 6 on hollywood blvd. So impressed (scared) we where by this locale we hightailed it to San Diego on the train the next day.
LA is on my list for one day - I need to give it a chance. I want to see the walk of fame and venice beach and universal studios and disneyland etc - as touristy as they may be. I think another reason it bothers me so is that a lot of Australians just go to LAX and NYC because QF flies there, and those cities to me aren't a great experience of the real America. I guess that's the same reason why London doesn't impress me.... every second Australian is there. They coined the term JAFA for a reason http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif

There's my 2 cents http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/cool.gif
06-Sep-2009, 08:36 AM
29palms

I was in L.A back in 1982 when I was stationed in the Palms out in the desert some three hour bus ride, but would get off in Hollywierd where we jarhead types could raise a little hell. I did the Hollywierd stars sidewalk thing, saw some stars names on there, but I suspect its way overdone by now some 27 years later and that many more stars. So you could say that at one time, I was a "HOLLYWOOD MARINE". "Standing tall and lookin good, we outa be in Hollywood." Was one of our cadence songs as we PT'D out in 29 Palms out in the Mojave. Good place for us to be, away from society where we can't scare anyone. Maybe I aint standing tall and lookin good anymore 27 years later, but I'm still a mean mutha .....ah.........and can still make an M16 play some mighty fine tunes.......
06-Sep-2009, 08:46 AM
Migflanker

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nick @ Sep 6 2009, 06:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

...... just go to LAX and NYC because QF flies there, and those cities to me aren't a great experience of the real America. London doesn't impress me.... every second Australian is there. They coined the term JAFA for a reason http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif
There's my 2 cents http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/cool.gif[/b]

What do you mean LA isn't the real America? Trust me, under all the tinsel and plastic, there's a lot of real America here. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif

BTW, JAFA? Just Another Friendly Australian? http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif
06-Sep-2009, 08:55 AM
Nick

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Migflanker @ Sep 6 2009, 11:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

What do you mean LA isn't the real America? Trust me, under all the tinsel and plastic, there's a lot of real America here. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif

BTW, JAFA? Just Another Friendly Austrialian? http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif[/b]

Haha when I say real America, I mean a cross section. It's like coming to Australia and just visiting Sydney. What about Melbourne's cafes and laneway bars (biased), Adelaide's wineries, Perth's laid backness, Queensland's... drunks (and reef). America is just such a vast, interesting and different place from coast to coast and with so much history I don't get why people limit themselves to two gateway cities.

Hahahha try just another expletive aussie.... but I think you knew this http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif Term can also be used for Aucklanders, apparently.
06-Sep-2009, 09:23 AM
Migflanker

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (29Palms @ Sep 6 2009, 06:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

I was in L.A back in 1982 when I was stationed in the Palms out in the desert some three hour bus ride, but would get off in Hollywierd where we jarhead types could raise a little hell.[/b]

Palms, I know you won't be surprised when I tell you, Marines from 29 Palms are still coming to LA/Hollywood. And Palms, they're still arriving by the carload; piling out of a car held together with wire and duct tape. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif
06-Sep-2009, 09:25 AM
Nick

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (29Palms @ Sep 6 2009, 11:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

29 Palms out in the Mojave.[/b]

Your screen name now finally makes sense http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...>/rolleyes.gif
06-Sep-2009, 10:00 AM
Migflanker

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vulindlela @ Sep 6 2009, 05:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

Lake Tahoe
Grand Canyon

These are my favorites that I have visited.[/b]

Lake Tahoe is beautiful, but that airport. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/ohmy.gif It's been years, but I remember it well, just a quick trip LA to Lake Tahoe.
AA/Eagle Fairchild Metroliner - - 19 pax plane, NO cockpit door, NO FA's, NO lav & lugggage stacked in the rear of the cabin.
We caught a downdraft.......... Captain yells- "hold on" ..........luggage in front of the cabin.
Never flew into Lake Tahoe again!
06-Sep-2009, 11:40 AM
mrs767er

Mammoth Cave[s]
The most incredible, massive underground cave system in the world

PS--I thought the REAL America went to Ripley's Believe it or NOT. They still watch the funny home video TV show--and Nascar is the most attended sporting event. God save America!!!
06-Sep-2009, 04:44 PM
29palms

No, not surprised at all. And yes Nick, 29 Palms California. Usually I would take the greyhound to LA but other times, jumped in a car with someone on base that could get one.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Migflanker @ Sep 6 2009, 02:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

Palms, I know you won't be surprised when I tell you, Marines from 29 Palms are still coming to LA/Hollywood. And Palms, they're still arriving by the carload; piling out of a car held together with wire and duct tape. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif[/b]
09-Sep-2009, 08:56 AM
Nick

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Migflanker @ Sep 6 2009, 05:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

Right you are Palms, sadly, tourism often destroys the rare and the beautiful. Tourism Threatens To Destroy Galapagos[/b]

Here's an idea - http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-new...90909-fgy3.html