I've been asked many times "What are your favorite travel spots?" I find that one of the hardest questions to answer. Every place is so different, and special in it's own way. It also depends in what context the question has been asked. If I were talking to a diver, I would answer the question quite different than I would if I were talking about ruins, beaches, or cities.

I plan to make Dave's Top Ten a monthly feature of my blog ...to that end ...my first top ten;

Dave's Top Ten Ruins in the World

This is one of my hardest lists to do, since ruins are one of my favorite things in the world ...I think a top 20 would have been easier for this one, but here's my Top Ten Ruins.

1. Angkor, Cambodia

Angkor is one of the most vast and diverse sites on Earth. A few month's ago I made my fourth trip to Angkor. There is so much to explore, that I find myself back there time and time again. My favorite areas of Angkor are Ta Prohm(pictured below) and the Bayon(cover image) ...make sure to check out some of the smaller sites off the beaten path.

Ta Prohm, Angkor, Cambodia

2. Machu Picchu, Peru

If at all possible, I highly recommend hiking the Inca Trail(Original, not NEW Inca Trail) ...an amazing hike, followed by a great reward of Machu Picchu at the end. Another must do is the hike up Huayna Picchu(the steep mountain behind the ruins).

Machu Picchu, Peru

3. Petra, Jordon

One of the most amazing and unique ruins in the world ...a city carved in the side of a mountain ...gotta love the trail up there between the canyon walls.

4. Bagan, Myanmar(Burma)

I knew very little about Bagan when I went to Burma, but WOW, I was blown away ...an amazing collection of over 4,400 temples.

Bagan, Myanmar(Burma)

5. Yonaguni, Japan

You're going to have to be a diver for this one! Possibly the lost city of Mu. As soon as I read about Yonaguni in a diving magazine, I booked a liveaboard trip ...a must see on your diving bucket list!

6. Tikal, Guatemala

My favorite of the Mayan ruins. The site is laid out, and restored in a way that you can imagine yourself there back in time. Make sure you take one morning where you climb the west pyramid and watch the sunrise ...I was lucky enough to have a howler monkey sitting beside me watching the sunrise ...we had a pretty good chat, although I didn't always get what he was saying!

7. Luxor, Egypt

Egypt has so much more for ruins than just the pyramids at Giza. The ruins at Luxor, which include the Valley of the Kings(Including King Tut's Tomb), and Valley of the Queens, are by far the most expansive and interesting of ruins in Egypt.

8. Palenque, Mexico

I fell in love with these ruins the first time I came here. It was the only of the ruins where you were allowed to go into the underground tunnels that link the temples ...I don't know if it's still allowed or not. If it is, be prepared for rats and bats!

9. Ayutthaya, Thailand

It's no Angkor, but some great Khmer ruins all the same, and very close to Bangkok.

10. Colosseum, Rome, Italy

No shortage of ruins in Italy, but of them all, I really enjoy the Colosseum the most.

Dave's Top Ten: Top Ten Ruins

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Wanderlust Dave