John MauriziExplorer

Many people access the Padre Canyon hike in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve from the south, which has a parking pull-over just south of the Tuacahn Center main gate on Tuacahn Drive. The trail starts from the southwest corner, passing through a fence. Follow the trail around a prominent butte. Once around this butte, the canyon begins to narrow. The trail follows the right side of the canyon then...

This loops starts out from the Rockland Road Trail head.  There is a pay station here that is self-regulated.  Creekside Trail starts here and runs the entire length of Brandywine Creek State Park along the Brandywine River. The trail is an easy 2.6 miles long and continues into First State National Historical Park where is meets up with the Brandywine Trail. The southern end of the trail is si...

Wat Mahathat means "Monastery of the Great Relic." This is because a relic of The Buddha was housed in the Chedi here. This temple was the largest and center of the religion in Ayutthaya being built around the mid to late 1300's. In 1767, the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya and burned Mahathat. They also decapitated all the Buddha statues you see at this location. The grounds here are beautiful. Ched...

This monastery is also known as Wat Phra Chao Phya-thai and Wat Yai Chai-mongkol. The main Chedi here stands 62 meters high and took over 28,000 tons of bricks to construct. The chedi was constructed in 1357 by King U-Thong for monks who had been studying Buddhism in Ceylon. Upon their return, the King named the Monastery, Wat Chao Phya-thai which means "The Temple of the Supreme Patriarch". La...

The only access to the Northgate Peaks Trail is by the Wildcat Canyon Trail, which has a trailhead just off Kolob Terrace Road. From the start of the trail you have a good view of Pine Valley Peak on your right. The trail passes on the left into an open green and lush area. After hiking a little over one mile on the Wildcat Canyon Trail, you will reach a trail junction with the Northgate Peaks ...

This hike starts from the parking lot of Sieur de Monts Nature Center parking lot, walking on the Wild Gardens Path to the Tarn Trail.  This is a section of the Kane Path so you will not see any mention of a Tarn Trail on the maps for Acadia National Park. The trail runs right along the lake edge which is very rocky the entire length. However, the park service has done a great job moving large ...

This trail was named in honor of the military troops that trained here during World War II. Keep in mind, this loop trail is at 7000 feet, so if you are driving up from Phoenix or even Sedona, you may feel a little winded.  However, there is no serious climbs on this hike so you may feel no difference.  You can hike this trail in either direction.  I hiked in a clockwise direction.  There are n...

From the West Trapps parking lot ($15 for hikers), walk to the end of the parking lot and past a large kiosk.  The trail connects the parking lot to the Overcliff Road/Undercliff Road junction.  The loop can be done in either direction.  I turned left on the Overcliff Road.  This takes you behind the ridge and away from the cliffs.  Follow this Carriage road for 2.5 miles until is descends to a...

This hike was amazing to me. This trail in not listed on any park service map. If you have the Death Valley National Geographic Map, there is a trail noted at the base of Pinon Mesa (which is not really a mesa so don't look for it) that leads to Hummingbird Spring. Since there was a noted trail and it was in a remote area near Wildrose, where I was camping, I thought I would check it out. The ...

East Mebon is a temple that was built in the 10th century. The unique thing about East Mebon is that it is actually built on an island. The island is in the middle of what was a man made reservoir called East Baray. The reservoir is now try so you have to use your imagine nation when exploring East Mebon, that it was completely surrounded by water.  The temple has three tiers and five towers on...

This is a great find. We saw it on the map it was on the way from Mendocino to our next stop, Napa Valley. So glad we took the time to visit. It is a small park with about a two mile loop hike in a valley floor loaded with huge redwoods and few people. The trail is very easy and starts along a small creek. The trail is relatively flat and easy to find. It does go a little deeper into the forest...

Thommanon Temple is a Hindu temple built in the 12th century. It is rather small and located as you exit from Angkor Thom through the Victory Gate. A short way after you exit the Victory Gate, Thommanon is on the left.  The grounds of the complex are flat and open with all the underbrush cleared away. The carvings at Thommanon are in great condition. There is only one tower at this temple, a lo...

Bantaey Srei was built in 967 A.D. primarily of sandstone. Bantaey Srei is the name the locals call the site now. Translated this means "City of Women" or Citadel of Women. It is called this because of the intricate carvings throughout the complex that are said could only be carved by the delicate hands of women. The temple was originally called Isvarapura and was dedicated to Shiva.From the pa...

Start this hike from the Appalachian Trail parking area off route 23, south bound side, south of the park office. Follow the Blue Dot trail until is intersects with the Iris Trail. The Iris Trail (marked with red blazes) is a through hike that is about 5 miles long. It parallels the Appalachian Trail for the same distance, intersecting with it once until it meets again at a small parking area. ...

Baksei Cham Krong means, The bird that shelters under its wings. The legend is that during an attack on Angkor, the king was sheltered by a large bird that spread it's wings and saved the king. Baksei Cham Krong is only one temple. It is constructed out of different materials from what you see at Angkor Wat. Not many people take the time to pull over and walk back to this temple. It is very clo...

When you first see Yumbulagang from a distance, it is quite an impressive sight. Perched atop a craggy hill makes the main tower here seem much larger than it is. Yumbulagang is said to be the first Monastery in Tibet, built by the first Tibetan King. There is only a few monks present to tend to the butter lamps and pilgrims. It serves more as an attraction now. There are still pilgrims that vi...

This hike was my first exposure to walking a Kora around a Monastery.  Sera Monastery is considered one of the three great monastery's, the other two being Drepung (also in Lhasa) and Ganden.  Sera is an active Gelug Unniversity which last I heard has nearly 2000 monks studying here.The Kora starts on the outer left wall, circling clockwise.  As you start out along a dirt path you soon reach se...

This is a nice 1/2 day trip. La Fortuna falls is popular with tourist and locals, not just for viewing the falls but there is excellent swimming holes just below the fall and you can also swim right in the pool the falls fall into but the approach to that pool is very rocky and wet.  The falls are about 70 meters high and the sound it makes if deafening.  The hike to the falls is about one mile...

The Halfway Stage Station is a ruin site that is located off of Mill Canyon rd. This station served as the half way mark between Moab and Thompson which is where the train station was. It was 35 miles between Moab and Thomson so travelers would stop for lunch on there way to or from Thompson. The first train came to the area in 1883. All that remains is part of the stone wall within a fenced ar...

Lolei Temple (also called Prasat Lolei), is part of the Roluos Group southeast of Siem Reap. It was built if the 9th century and consists of 4 towers. The brick towers have not been restored but some restoration is underway on the main tower. There are some well preserved carvings inlaid into the brick on either side of the doors. This is a small area set on a hill and is interesting to check o...

I haven't seen this trail really called anything. The explorer in me likes to check out paths less taken. This is truly one of them. It could be that few people know it even exists. Most, probably have a limited time to visit all that Angkor Archeological Park has to offer, so don't seek out a trail such as this.I call it the Outer Wall Trail because it is just that. A trail that goes around th...

During my tour to Chiang Rai and north tea plantations, my guide also took me to a Karen Long Neck village.  This, for the most part is a tourist attraction/trap and set up strictly for tourists. The Karen people are a tribal group throughout northern Thailand and Myanmar.  The tribe is known for the women who place brass rings around their neck. Over time, this stretches out the neck.  My gui...

This is a small temple just east of the Victory Gate from Angkor Thom. It is very similar to Thommanon Temple which is just across the road. Both are Hindu temples constructed in the 12 century.A nice stop to do along with Thommanon Temple when touring the small circuit around Angkor. Chau Say Tevoda is slightly different in that it has a stone walkway and the outline of a moat can still be seen.

Ta Som is located along the Grand Circuit road after passing Neak Pean and was built in the late 12 century. The interesting thing about Ta Som is that none of it has been restored, with the exception of clear undergrowth vegetation. Also, there is a gate tower at the entrance with four faces of Buddha, very similar to the gates at the entrance/exit to Angkor Thom.Through this entrance gate the...