El Castillo at Chichen Itza in the Yucatan, Mexico.

El Castillo (Spanish for “castle”), also known as the Temple of Kukulkan, is a step-pyramid that dominates the centre of the Yucatan’s Chichen Itza site. Built by the pre-Columbian Maya sometime between the ninth and twelfth centuries, El Castillo served as a temple to the god Kukulkan, a Mayan deity that resembled a feathered serpent.

Consisting of a series of terraces with stairways up each of its four sides, sculptures of plumed serpents run down the sides of the the pyrimad’s northern facing side. During the spring and autumn equinoxes, the late afternoon sun illuminates the northwest corner and casts a series of shadows against the temple’s face—which creates the illusion of a feathered serpent “crawling” down the pyramid.

Recently, a theory that the ancient Mayans built their pyramids to produce strange and evocative echoes has been supported by a team of scientists. Researchers have shown that sound waves ricocheting around the tiered steps of the pyramid create sounds that mimic the chirp of a bird and the patter of raindrops. As our guide illustrated, the aforementioned ‘chirp’ can be triggered by a clap made at the base of the staircase.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregulary.  Like all of our photos, it is an original photo not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from the archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: El Castillo at Chichen Itza" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

The view from the top is very good, looking over to Santiago—which was once connected to Bartolome.

Just off Isla San Salvador’s Sullivan Bay coast, the tiny islet of Isla Bartolome is among the younger of the Galapagos Islands. With a total land area of just 1.2 sq km, this island offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in the archipelago. As a fairly recent volcano with very little vegetation, there are some great features like spatter and cinder cones, as well as some neat looking pumice rocks and ropy lava. Wooden steps lead up to the top to avoid wear on the fragile volcanic soil. This is the most visited of the Galapagos Islands, partly because of its proximity to Santa Cruz—those that don’t like a lot of open water can make a day trip from there. The view from the top was very good, looking over to Santiago which was once connected to Bartolome.

Bartolome also has the distinction of being the location of the only feature film ever to shoot in the Galapagos — Peter Weir’s Master and Commander (starring Russel Crowe). In fact, the movie’s Galapagos scenes are the only time where the men of the HMS Surprise leave their ship to touch land. According to Weir, it’s hard to overestimate the importance of the movie’s Galapagos scenes. It’s the only point in the movie you actually see land,” he points out, “making it a centerpiece of the movie. I wanted to make the Galapagos look almost like another planet to the men aboard the Surprise.”

Considering the Galapagos on your RTW trip? You will after reading these posts—check them out!

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregulary.  Like all of our photos, it is an original photo not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from the archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Top of Bartolome" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Just 61 sq km in size, Espanola offers great wildlife—sea lions, sea birds and the largest marine iguanas of Galapagos.

Just 61 sq km in size, Espanola is a fantastic place to go bird watching. It’s home to the Waved Albatross, considered to be among the most spectacular birds in the world. The island’s steep cliffs serve as the perfect runways for these large birds, which take off for their ocean feeding grounds near the mainland of Ecuador and Peru abandoning the island between January and March. Endemic to the island, Espanola is the waved albatross’s only nesting place. Each April, the male Albatross return to Espanola followed shortly thereafter by their mates. Young albatross do not return to Espanola until their 4th or 5th year when they return to seek a mate. It’s worth a visit between the months of late March through to December, when the Albatross rests and nests here.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregulary.  Like all of our photos, it is an original photo not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from the archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Espanola’s Cliffs" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Handkerchiefs held above a dancer's head symbolize feathers.

The Cueca, a unique dance form native to Chile, is credited as being the country’s national dance.  With historical roots in both African and Native American cultures, the Cueca is a parody of the courtship of a chicken and rooster. The handkerchiefs held above a dancer’s head symbolize the feathers of the bird or the rooster’s comb. The Cueca is a very complex dance, and the music is generally performed with one or two voices accompanied by guitar, piano, harp, accordion, or other instruments. Dancers move in semicircles back, turning towards the partner and then away. It starts with a promenade where the man invites the woman to join him by offering his arm. This is done while instrumental entry music is played. The couples stand facing each other about three meters apart. Before the song begins, the couple claps their hands in rhythm of the music.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregulary.  Like all of our photos, it is an original photo not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from the archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Chile’s Cueca" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Tilt-shift of the 'Lost City of the Incas'

This week’s photo incorporates tilt shifting. Tilt-shift style miniature photos are simply photos of real life scenes that are made to look like miniature scale models. This is done using either a special camera lens (one with tilt capability), or with software, instead of a special lens.

The subject of course is Machu Picchu, situated above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 km northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”, it is perhaps the most familiar icon of the Inca World. Prefer to see a non-doctored image of Machu Picchu? Click here.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregulary.  Like all of our photos, it is an original photo not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from the archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Machu Picchu Tilt Shift" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Root Cellar, Elliston

Once a busy fishing settlement but now a quiet tourist destination, Elliston is a small community located on the Northeastern tip of the Bonavista peninsula in Newfoundland. With over 130 root cellars—small storage spaces skillfully built into the hillsides—Elliston has an unusual heritage. Important to many in rural Newfoundland, the root cellars kept vegetables cool, yet frost-free and edible during the long winter months. A tour of the town and the neighbouring community of Maberly reveals a hillside dotted with tiny doors and wooden frames, portals, perhaps, to a time when living was harder, but much simpler. The town contains many attractions including the beautiful beach at Sandy Cove, camping facilities at Elliston municipal park, puffin sites and of course many examples of traditional Newfoundland root cellars.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregularly.  Like all of our photos, it is an original  not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from an archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Newfoundland Root Cellar" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

The Caretaker's Hut.

On the funerary plain, overlooking Machu Picchu, stands the Caretaker’s Hut. The hut is one of the few structures in Machu Picchu that has a thatched roof. Open on one side—with three windows looking out to the Urubamba valley below—this is one of the best places in Machu Picchu to get the classic photo of the Lost City of the Incas—and Huayna Picchu looming above! The Caretaker’s Hut is one of the few buildings which has been restored with a thatched roof. As explained to us, the ceremonial rock terrace may have been used to mummify the nobility and explains the hut’s name. Not far from the Hut is a perennial spring that served as the domestic water supply for the Inca residents of Machu Picchu.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregularly.  Like all of our photos, it is an original  not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from an archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Caretaker’s Hut at Machu Picchu" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

The eaves of Wat Phra Kaew

In the heart of downtown Bangkok, Wat Phra Kaew is an oasis comprised of a group of buildings profusely adorned with gold leaf, glazed coloured tiles and mirror-glass inlay. Standing guard outside the perimeter are statues of giant yakshas. This shot was taken on an old school Sony DSC-P10 on August 28, 2004—back when Kathryn and I were travelling Asia long term.

This weeks’ ‘Whole Picture’ is doing double duty, serving also as our entry for Travel Photography Roulette. Jeremy at Living the Dream came up with the idea and got the ball rolling. Sixteen weeks on and hundreds of amazing photos later—it’s still going strong. This week, Jason over at TravelJunkies is hosting. The theme he chose is ‘architecture’. Would you like to enter? Simply leave a comment at his post with a link to the image (whether Flickr, Picasa or your own site) and Jason will upload it to his post. The only caveat—you have to be a blogger to enter! Winners will be announced Sunday, May 29.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregularly.  Like all of our photos, it is an original  not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from an archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: The Eaves of Wat Phra Kaew" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Gold ornamental patter statuettes.

Garuda is a national symbol of Thailand. In Thai mythology, the creature is known as the king of birds. With characteristics very much like an eagle, this ancient and enduring symbol embodies the Thai monarchy. Besides serving as the royal insignia, the Garuda is also the official seal of the civil government. In Thai, he is known as “Krut”. Like so many characters of Theravada Buddhist mythology, the Garuda was adopted from the Hindu religious pantheon by way of the ancient Hindu-based Khmer kingdom, which once held sway over much of the region.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregularly.  Like all of our photos, it is an original  not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from an archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Garudas of the Grand Palace" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Presidente José Manuel Balmaceda Fernandez

The obelisk and statue located in Santiago’s Providencia neighbourhood (notable for its large, old and elegant houses inhabited in the past by the Santiago elite) honour Chilean President José Manuel Balmaceda Fernandez, in a pose of firm resolution, who died while ending the civil war and revolution of 1891. The work of artist Samuel Román Rojas, the statue was cast in bronze at the College of Arts and Trades, today the University of Santiago, and inaugurated on December 10, 1949.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregularly.  Like all of our photos, it is an original  not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from an archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Providencia’s Obelisk" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Osorno is known worldwide as a symbol of the local landscape, and is noted for its similar appearance to Mount Fuji.

Standing almost 60 kilometers to the northwest of Puerto Varas, Osorno Volcano reaches a height of 2,661m, making it visible from every point in the district of Osorno—and even in some places on Chiloé Island! With its classical blackish dark green color and ornamented with arms of eternal snow, it’s noted for its resemblance to Mount Fuji of Japan. Osorno is one of the most active volcanoes of the southern Chilean Andes, with 11 historical eruptions recorded between 1575 and 1869. In fact, Charles Darwin glimpsed Osorno from a distance in the course of the second voyage of the Beagle, catching sight of its eruption in January 1835.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregularly.  Like all of our photos, it is an original  not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from an archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Osorno Volcano" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Cántaros Pond, Puerto Blest, Argentina

Forests of thick cypress and coihue trees line the boardwalk to Cántaros Pond, which is set amidst a spectaculer Valdivian rainforest. They grow on an understory made up by low bushes, covered by lianas and climbing plants. The atmosphere is humid and the site is ideal for grass, moss and fungi to grow. These forests include stands of huge trees, especially Nothofagus and Fitzroya, which can live to a great age. This spot is one of the most humid in Argentina—rainfall records reach 4,000 annual millimeters.

In order to reach Cántaros Pond at Puerto Blest, catch a catamaran on the Llao Llao Peninsula, which sets sail for the long and narrow Blest Arm. This part of Lake Nahuel Huapi is guarded by Isla Centinela (Sentry Island)—where the grave of Francisco (Perito) Moreno is located.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregularly.  Like all of our photos, it is an original  not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from an archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Cántaros Pond in Argentina" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

On Española, adult marine iguanas are brightly colored with a reddish tint.

Secluded from the other islands, wildlife on Española adapted to the island’s unique environment. Therefore, Marine Iguanas from Española are the only subspecies that change colour during breeding season. These Iguanas are the only sea-going lizards in the world.

Normally, Marine Iguanas are black, which serves as a camouflage that makes it difficult for predators to distinguish iguanas from the black lava rocks they like to warm themselves on. On Española, adult marine iguanas are brightly colored with a reddish tint—except during mating season when they change to more of a greenish hue. Their striking red colour comes from a particular seaweed that blooms during the summer months, which also coincides with the their mating season.

"The Whole Picture: Marine Iguana at Española" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea

Gyeongbokgung (경복궁, Gyeongbok Palace) is a palace located in northern Seoul. It was the main and largest palace of the Joseon Dynasty and one of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty.

The sundial located in Gyeongbokgung was invented by Jang Yeong-sil in 1433 (during the 16th year of King Sejong). The circular design has been taken as an indication that Joseon scientists could accurately read the sun’s movement and were very much aware that the earth was round. It was constructed in the shape of a hemisphere in order to express the shape of the sky

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregularly.  Like all of our photos, it is an original photo not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from the archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Gyeongbokgung Palace Sundial" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Tambopata National Reserve, Peru

The Tambopata National Reserve (TNR) is part of a 3.7m acre reserve in southeastern Peru. These are some of the most pristine primary rain forests in the world, which include several oxbow lakes and clay licks, where hundreds of birds including macaws feed on clay. This reserve protects the biological diversity of the Tavara and the Candamo Rivers watersheds, as well as the Tambopata itself. The mandate of the reserve is underwritten by a concerted effort sustainable development and conservation of forest resources. The TNR protects habitats ranging from the Andean highlands through some of the last remaining intact cloud forests to the lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin. Over 1,300 bird species (including 32 parrot species—10% of the world’s total), 200 mammal species, 90 frog species, 1,200 butterfly species and 10,000 species of higher plants are protected within this reserve.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregulary.  Like all of our photos, it is an original photo not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from the archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: The Tambopata River" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

San Pedro Market, Cusco, Peru

If you’re headed to Cusco, be sure to take a day or an afternoon to explore the city on foot. Of particular note is the San Pedro Market—a covered open-air market encompassing three city blocks. Located West of the Plaza de Armas near the San Pedro Train Station, Cusco’s central market is a vibrant spot that can keep you entertained for hours. Here you can have a first-hand look at how locals live day-to-day, outside the confines of Cusco’s tourist zones. Get off the beaten path a little bit and head to the San Pedro Market for a truly Peruvian experience. And bring lots of film—or make sure that you have abundant space on your memory card. Cusco continually reveals itself as the perfect setting! It’s a very photogenic city.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregulary.  Like all of our photos, it is an original photo not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from the archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: San Pedro Market" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Woman Weaver, Sacred Valley, Peru

High in the Andes of Peru, life is changing for the Quechuan women in the small villages outside of Cuzco. Women weavers are learning skills to make themselves self-sufficient and changing the tapestry of family economics. Weaving is growing into the social organization and economic situation of the region. For more information on weaving cooperatives in the region’s surrounding mountain villlages, check out Planeterra.

Planeterra is a non-profit organization with a history of supporting communities through travellers’ desire to give back. Their range of over worldwide—from providing water tanks to families in Kenya to a women’s weaving co-operative in Peru—offer travellers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people and communities around the world.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregulary.  Like all of our photos, it is an original photo not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from the archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Woman Weaving" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Machu Picchu, Urubamba Valley, Peru

Machu Picchu, from the Quechua meaning ‘Old Mountain’, is a pre-Columbian Inca site located 2,430 metres above sea level. Back in April of this year, at least one half of the intrepid Two Go Round-The-World duo was able to enjoy a small group tour of Peru (sorry Kathryn!). Offered by Gap Adventures, this 10-day tour is dubbed a ‘Taste of Peru’ and encompasses Lima, the Amazon and the Andes. Check out some images from both the Amazon and Cuzco.

It is situated above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 km northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”, it is perhaps the most familiar icon of the Inca World. Although known locally, it was unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction and, since it was not found and plundered by the Spanish after they conquered the Incas, it is important as a cultural site.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregulary.  Like all of our photos, it is an original photo not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from the archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Machu Picchu" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Xuankong Si Hanging Monastery, Shanxi Province

The Xuankong Si Hanging Monastery stands at the foot of Mt Hengshan, 65km from Datong in Mainland China. As it hangs on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 50m above the ground, it’s been dubbed the Hanging Monastery. Built in 491, the structure has survived more than 1400 years. The extant monastery was largely rebuilt and maintained during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and through the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture’  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘  irregulary.  Like all of our photos, it is an original photo not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from the archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Hanging Monastery" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!

Outside of Datong in the People's Republic of China

Most famous for its grottoes, its pagodas and its tremendous hanging monasteries, Datong in northern Shanxi Province lies between the Inner and Outer Great Wall. This picture was taken at a village near the inner wall about 60 miles to the east of Datong. Like most stretches of the wall outside of Beijing, it is suffering from erosion and collapse in many places.

Inspired by publications like Life Magazine, National Geographic and online experiences like Boston.com’s photo blog, images marked as ‘The Whole Picture‘  are intended to highlight high-quality, amazing imagery. Kathryn and Daniel will post ‘The Whole Picture‘ irregularly.  Like all of our photos, it is an original photo not otherwise on the site—it might be fresh from our camera, a new scan of some old film, a product of our fooling around with Photoshop, or a file from the archive that we haven’t posted yet.

"The Whole Picture: Shanxi, China" is a post from Two Go Round-The-World. Join Kathryn and Daniel as they plan, prepare and pack for a year-long RTW trip! Ready to dive in? Click here for a few easy ways to stay connected with us!