gijsvdelsen's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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gijsvdelsen's activity rankings
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Places visited in Krong Battambang, Cambodia
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Places visited in Hilo, Hawaii
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Places visited in Chichen Itza, Mexico
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Places visited in Bacalar, Mexico
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Places visited in Kanchanaburi, Thailand
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Sydney, Australia

The Queen's Letter

This letter written by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986 won't be opened until 2085.
Sydney, Australia

Eric the Pliosaur

The bones of this aquatic dinosaur turned to opal over the centuries and the beast's remains were almost sold as jewelry.
Sydney, Australia

Thylacine Taxidermy

A rare specimen of an iconic extinct animal in downtown Sydney.
Sydney, Australia

Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

Come for the flowers, stay for the bats!
San Francisco, California

Musée Mécanique

A collection of 20th-century automata, penny arcade games, and musical contraptions.
Duy Xuyên District, Vietnam

My Son Sanctuary

Showcasing some of the best-preserved temples of the Champa Kingdom.
Antwerp, Belgium

Nello and Patrasche

This statue dedicated to the story of a Flemish boy and his dog was relatively obscure in Belgium, but a cult sensation in Japan.
Antwerp, Belgium

Lange Wapper Statue

This legendary giant, born from vegetables, terrorized townspeople and cheated local children in games.
Antwerp, Belgium

Museum Vleeshuis

This former guildhall with a bacon-like exterior is now home to a museum covering 600 years of Antwerp's musical history.
Antwerp, Belgium

Brabo Fountain

A man throwing a giant severed hand towers over Antwerp’s main square.
Honolulu, Hawaii

Ali’iolani Hale

Once the site of the Hawaiian monarchy, this building was originally designed as a palace.
Castellana Grotte, Italy

Castellana Caves

The sunlight passing through the opening of this huge cave system creates a magical effect.
Bari, Italy

Manna of St. Nicholas of Bari

A dead saint, a deadly poison, and a mysterious holy ooze.
Monopoli, Italy

Chiesa di Santa Maria del Suffragio detta del Purgatorio

Macabre symbols of death and mummies on display set the tone of this Italian purgatory church.
Vatican City

'Angels Unawares'

The first statue to be added to Saint Peter's Square in over 350 years is an ode to migrants and refugees around the world.
Bangkok, Thailand

The Standing Buddha

This statue took 60 years to complete.
Chichen Itza, Mexico

Chichen Itza Chirp

Clap your hands at the base of the pyramid, and the song of a sacred Mayan bird will echo through the air.
Chichen Itza, Mexico

Pyramid of Kukulcan at Chich'en Itza

Every equinox this Maya pyramid puts on a spooky ancient light show.
Chichen Itza, Mexico

El Caracol

No telescopes, no power, no gift shop: The Observatory of Chichen Itza, one of the world's oldest observatories, takes astronomy back to basics.
Palenque, Mexico

Palenque

An elaborate Mayan city shrouded in alien conspiracy revealed the tomb of Pacal the Great.
Palenque, Mexico

Rabbit Skull Relief

The enigmatic skull gazes out over the ruins of a once-great Mayan city.
Mexico

Calakmul

A hidden treasure of an abandoned city lies deep in the jungles of Campeche, Mexico.
Xpujil, Mexico

'Caracol de Vida' ('Snail of Life')

A monument in the shape of the mighty conch honors the history and symbolism behind this shell.
Bacalar, Mexico

Laguna de Bacalar (Lake of Seven Colors)

At least seven hues of blue and turquoise make this freshwater lagoon unique.