Phnom Kulen: Cambodia's Hill That Predates Angkor Wat

 13°36'51.70"N 104°06'39.24"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   The worldwide famous Angkor Wat is the undisputed symbol of Cambodia. However, some 30 kilometers north of it, there lays the equally magnificent Phnom Kulen mountain range. Now serving as a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has been a sacred spot for both Hindus and Buddhists for centuries, while it is also considered the birthplace of the powerful ancient Khmer Empire. But besides its history, Phnom Kulen boasts as well a fairy-tale nature: from crystal-clear waterfalls to lush green hills and from incredible standing-up rocks to little rivers and streams. Let's get started!

Bhopal: Where The World's Deadliest Industrial Disaster Took Place

23°16′51″N 77°24′38″E

   In 1984, the Indian city of Bhopal suffered world's biggest and deadliest industrial disaster ever. Thousands of Bhopalis awoke from their sleep when a highly toxic gas called methyl isocyanate leaked from a local pesticide plant, killing instantly 3000 people and disabling hundreds of thousands for the rest of their lives. The night silence suddenly turned into a chaos made of screams, coughs and sobs of desperate inhabitants, whilst the only thing the chemical workers could do was to watch silently how the gas slowly invaded the buildings. Today in Blind Witnesses, the horrific gas tragedy of Bhopal.

Kigali Genocide Memorial: In Memoriam Of The Victims Of Rwanda's 1994 Civil War

1°55'50.67"S 30°03'37.78"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   Despite having been a nation for centuries, Rwanda rarely ever felt like one. When this tiny African state still was a kingdom, it was ethnically divided into two main groups: the Tutsi, who conformed the ruling minority; and the Hutu, who made up the powerless majority. As a result, this injustice was the trigger for one of the bloodiest civil wars of the 20th century which killed over a million people in 4 years. Fortunately, the last marks of this dark chapter are the placid memorials which encourage Rwandans to process their macabre past and to begin a new era of unification. One of the most iconic ones stands in the capital Kigali, serving as the resting place for thousands of people. But before fixating in this memorial site, a bit of history is necessary.

Kizhi Pogost: The Best-Preserved Remains Of Russia's Wooden Architecture

 62°04'03.02"N 35°13'25.07"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   At first glance it might look impressive, but once someone realizes that it is completely made out of wood, it turns out to be even more majestic. Kizhi Pogost, located on the island of the same name at Lake Onega, is one of the few remaining well-preserved pogosts from Russia's prominent wooden architecture of the 18th century. The complex is conformed by two churches and a bell tower, yet, Soviet authorities transferred additional ligneous constructions from throughout the country, transforming the island into a collection of wood structures. Nowadays, Kizhi reflects the stunning past rustic traces of a growing global superpower.

Tophet of Salammbo: Ancient Carthaginian Burial Chamber

 36°50'28.42"N 10°19'22.25"E

(from Wikimedia Commons)

   Who doesn't know Carthage? The ancient civilization that wrote history by becoming Rome's big rival and by dominating the Mediterranean's trade routes! Located in the present-day city of Tunis, it is renowned for its great sophistication at the time, having excellent military officers, numerous trade partners and a fine political structure (Learn more). But what you might not know, is that, despite all this, Carthage had some quite primitive rituals. Therefore, today we're going to learn about the Tophet of Salammbo, which opened a new way of how we viewed this advanced civilization. Now, let us start.