Breathtaking…That is a word that I am always a bit skeptical of.  Whether it is found scribbled on the back of a post card or perfectly placed in a travel brochure, I often find myself asking Really? Did it really take your breath away? There is no shortage of beautiful views just within your own home town, let alone throughout the world at large, but aren’t we being a little over the top when we call something breathtaking?

Then the other day as I was scrolling through an online list of the most unbelievable places on earth to visit, I started to think about the many beautiful places, people and things that I’ve seen in my years of travel and I have to say, with out being overly dramatic, there are a few stand-out places that really did take my breath away.  Sitting on an out of the way section of the Great Wall of China, I was speechless and found myself struggling to breath. Not because of the strenuous climb to get there, but because of the vast view and complete silence that was a true contrast to my past few days in non-stop Beijing.

The Great Wall (photo compliments of Wikipedia)

Standing on a cliff overlooking the beach of Praia do Forte, Brazil another place where I had to catch my breath and take it all in.  Though it was during my very first overseas trip, I still remember standing among the skyscrapers in the Shinjuku neighborhood of Tokyo doing the complete tourist move (head to the sky, mouth wide open, turning slowly in circles) and feeling infinitesimally small and immensely lucky at the same time.  Oh and that time diving in the Red Sea and spotting a hammerhead shark! Had it not been for the diving regulator controlling my breathing, I would have for sure forgotten to breath.

Is the Great Wall of China any more spectacular than the Pyramids of Giza?  Or the buildings of Shinjuku any more awe inspiring than the same towering buildings in New York City? Probably not, but I realize it is not only the site you’re taking in with your eyes, but also some indescribable pull it has on you. Be it on a peaceful mountain top or at a lively, colorful religious ceremony, whatever takes your breath away touches you on more than just a visual level. All of your senses and emotions are involved.

If you think back over your travels, have you ever had the amazing experience of losing yourself in your surroundings? Losing your breath to the beauty around you? If so, where were you? What were the circumstances? Have you gone back to visit again and did you have the same experience? Please share your comments below.