The famous monuments of the world are icons that nearly everyone can describe without actually visiting. Millions of photos of these attractions fill up guidebooks, blog posts, news articles, and internet resources; so much so that a few have become so large that they are cliche to even talk about in most situations. But have you ever taken the time to wonder - what is behind these wonders? This photo essay is served to take a 180 degree turn in order to see what the other direction of the world's top wonders look like. In many cases, the opposite direction is not as rosy as you may think.
The Pyramids of Egypt
Everyone knows the great Sphinx and Pyramids of Egypt. Without seeing this scene you are probably able to recall this image in your mind just by someone prompting you. But have you ever seen what is behind this iconic photo? It turns out that it is streets, business, a KFC, and a Pizza Hut. Yes, that Pizza Hut.
The Sacre Coeur of Paris
You may be wondering why we chose the Sacre Coeur of Paris and not one of the city's more famous monuments such as the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame. It is not that they do not have any interesting images to show a 180 degree spectrum on, it is more due to the fact that we quite literally do not have any photos to illustrate them. Sacre Coeur is a great choice for this feature; however, as it is one of the only attractions in the city that has the city itself as a beautiful background view.
The Skyline at Shanghai
One of my favorite skylines in the world is Shanghai. Amazing buildings, colorful lights, and the fact that you are so perfectly separated from it by the river makes it a unique spot anywhere in the world. Behind the skyline of Shanghai is the neighborhood of The Bund, with lit up buildings that are reminiscent of a London neighborhood. Definitely not what you would expect!
Phra Nang Beach, Thailand
Phra Nang Beach is on the Railay peninsula outside of Krabi and Ao Nang. This secluded peninsula is home only to a handful of resorts and the only access is via long tails from either city and absolutely no cars. Phra Nang Beach is often considered to be one of the Top 10 beaches in the world and with great reason, it is paradise. To really give this beach justice, we have to show this one from two angles. The first is looking out from the beach onto the sea and the second is a side angle capturing the entire coast in the frame. Turn around and you get one stereotypical image, and one stunning vista.
St Peters Basilica in Vatican City
Finally, for those who may be wondering what the 180 degree view is while atop St Peters Basilica that was shown at the beginning of the post, well, it is the basilica dome itself! But do not be fooled by the size of this photo, these domes are massive and the largest dome featured here is the tallest in the world.
So next time you are out exploring the world, don't just get drawn into the major attractions that are in-front of you. Turn around! You never know what hidden gems or cultural oddities you may find hiding in the background. They may end up being something you never expect and could easily miss if you did not take a moment to look the other way.
Where have you traveled that has a great view only captured by doing a complete 180? Comment below and let us know!
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