by Jason Reuter

Created on: July 04, 2008   Last Updated: July 07, 2008

10. Pamukkale, Turkey

Pamukkale, or "Cotton Castle," is a natural phenomenon of wonder-like beauty. Hot-spring waters rich in calcium oxide have, over thousands of years, cascaded down the slopes of Caldag, resulting in a build-up of white travertine. The result is chalky plateaus and petrified waterfalls colored a stunning white, brilliantly reflecting the colors of the sunset. Above Pamukkale lies the ruins of the Roman city Hierapolis, evidently built with the natural hot springs in mind, as remains of marble sluices wind all throughout the city. My day spent here was fabulous. A bus ride to the top of the slope dropped us off at the ruins, where hours were spent examining the vast sprawl of tumbled columns and eroded statuary. This was followed by a barefoot, and painful, hobble down the travertine plateaus, and a refreshing Turkish beer at a local restaurant.

9. The Egyptian Museum: Cairo, Egypt

The Egyptian Museum in bustling Cairo, is a feast for one's eyes and intellect, as it houses over 120,000 artifacts from Egypt's illustrious past. An important consideration to be made while here is how exactly to spend your time, as it is estimated that spending one minute at each item in the museum would take approximately nine months. Possibly the biggest draw in the museum is the veritable treasure trove of artifacts discovered by Howard Carter in 1923 during his excavation of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, a nearly legendary name, and a nearly legendary find. Exquisite jewelry, mammoth statuary and intricately-carved sarcophagi are among the numerous treasures to be seen here. An exquisite collection.

8. Ephesus: Selcuk, Turkey

The ancient city of Ephesus has an extremely rich history.It was the site of the Temple of Artemis Diana (One of the seven wonders of the ancient world), was visited, and liberated by Alexander the Great, and was an important center for early Christianity. Paul spent time there, preaching and eventually being imprisoned for endangering the livelihood of silver-smiths employed in fashioning statues of the city's patron deity, Artemis. (Acts 19:23) The highlight of a visit to Ephesus is the facade of the Library of Celsus, an excellent example of Roman architecture and the most stunning and preserved aspect of the entire city

7. Dahab, Egypt

Ah Dahab, just thinking about this place makes me relaxed. No impressive ruins, or museums, just a tranquil and idyllic seaside town, that has managed to retain a sense of calm despite a moderate influx of

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