Ludvan Profile

I am a serial WHS hunter, and targeting another 170 WHS to reach 500 traveled.  At each site, I will do my best to 1) Study the history and significance of the site before I go, 2) Join a guide tour and/or visit the museum, 3) take photos, including if possible, the shot on the UNESCO website, and the UNESCO designation plaque or sign.

 

I try to balance between WHS-rich areas such as Western Europe where i can cover 10-15 on a trip, and the remote, eg, Easter Island where travel cost and time are quite significant for a single site.

Visited Sites Ludvan

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Legend

  • Cultural
  • Natural
  • Mixed

Recent Reviews Ludvan


Taos Pueblo

Ludvan USA - 04-Nov-23

We just did a trip visiting all three Pueblo WHS in the Four-Corners area: Mesa Verde, Chaco Culture and lastly Taos Pueblo as a theme.  The first two are managed by NPS while Taos Pueblo is managed by locals.  The first impression was that it is a money-making enterprise, they charged admissions of $22 pp.  The guided tour started with an introduction of the Pueblo cultural history, but it was everything we have already heard at the other parks and less.  We had expected a perspective from a Native but the guide seemed to just read the information from the NPS brochure.  She did not forget to ask for a gratuity.   We asked about the painting of a girl in the church, but she did not know the identity of the subject. 

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Hallstatt-Dachstein

Ludvan USA - 16-May-22

Hallstatt is a beautiful little town, and attracts lots and lots of tourists.  We drove in from Salzburg through vary mountainous roads and some mistakes of the GPS.  Once in town, you have to contend with parking, as there is no outside cars allowed in the tourist areas.  The two small lots in the center fills up quickly, but once in, everything is within walking distance.  The parking payment system is strange (for non-German speakers) but once you figure it out that the little yellow token is your parking stub, everything is logical.

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Fujian Tulou

Ludvan USA - 26-Aug-18

I visited Fujian Tulou in 2005, when there was only limited road access for tourists.  It is important to note that these villages are defensive in nature for the Hakka people.  The Hakka people migrated from north central China to flee wars in Henan Province in four major waves from the 7th to the 9th Century, and are resettled chiefly in four southern provinces, Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan and Sichuan.  Hakka in their language means Guest People.  As outsiders, they were subject to persecution and attacks, hence the circular shaped building where all activities are enclosed in the middle.  Homes are attached, with the defensive wall facing the outside.  The ground floor is for livestock, second floor for living and third floor sometimes used for storage

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West Lake

Ludvan USA - 26-Aug-18

I have been to West Lake several times, both before and after major clean-up and reconstruction. As one of the famous sites in China's history, it is incredibly crowded year round.  Prior to the clean-up in around 2000, it was a dirty, filled with filth, as it was a culture relic of the "Old Civilization" which the Cultural Revolution was trying to get rid of, or at least, neglect.  Since that time, they have build many hotels and entertainment facilities to choke it with tourists and chintz, including color-lit water displays.  Wonder how such crass commercialism deserves a UNESCO WHS designation. 

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Huanglong

Ludvan USA - 26-Aug-18

Huanglong

This beautiful site is a must if you visit Jiuzhaigou, a more famous site nearby in the Himalaya foothills in Sichuan Province, China.  It is quite a climb, from about 3,000 meters at the entrance to 4,000 meters at the top, the length is about 3-4km, so it is quite steep.  You would go up along the river "Yellow Dragon" or Huang Long, to view the waterfalls and mineral deposit pools (all in yellow).  All paths are set in stone steps, as the management has taken all the natural hazards out, and porters can be hired to carry you up in a sedan chair.  Although this is frowned upon.  Oxygen canisters are available at the entrance, I didn't need it, but used it anyway when I reached the top.  

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Profile Data

Name
Ludvan
Country
USA
Most Impressive
Gobekil Tepe

Recently Visited WHS

Update 16.01.24
Rating Stats
Avila 5
Mafra 5
Salamanca 4.5
Segovia 4.5
Evora 4
Oporto 4
Troy 4
Elvas 3.5
Kerkuane 3.5
Levuka 3.5
Quanzhou 3.5
Macao 3
Nisa 3
Sheki 2.5
West Lake 0.5
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