Best of List

Best of List-

Since it is the most common question I, or any other traveler, gets, I figured I’d satisfy the inquiring minds by composing this best of list. This is the ‘if someone held a gun to my head and forced me to answer’ list. It’s spilt up into countries, cities, towns, trekking & individual categories. (Towns also includes small islands). In order to make it a little easier on myself I developed a criteria. Eligibility requirements for countries is a minimum stay of 1 week. This doesn’t make too much of a difference, except excluding Namibia, which would have otherwise been in the running. The rule of 3 day minimum for cities is more impactful. Noteworthy exclusions include Zurich, Geneva, Brussels, Bratislava, Cairo and most importantly Istanbul, which would have been a shoe in near the top. Other exclusions, just to save room, are anything from a country I lived in (USA & Australia), otherwise Vegas and Sydney would be 1 & 2, New York and Chicago, and possibly New Orleans would have squeezed something out. For the trekking category there was a 3 day minimum on the trail, eliminating scores of day hikes from the running. There are 10 in each category, #1 at the top and #10 at bottom. Understand how difficult this was to compose and know that some absolutely amazing places didn’t make it. If listed here, even at #10, it means it’s absolutely exceptional on many levels. Important to note is the individuality of this list. These are MY top picks, which are based on MY experiences. Other people can have quite a different experience at any of these places. For example in the individual categories my visit to Matapouri Bay getting the nod for favorite beach would not likely be duplicated. The only reason it was such a special memory is because I didn’t see one other person in this beautiful cove for almost 2 full days. So don’t go to Gili T expecting to find the woman of your dreams and get pissed at me when you run into a sausage fest. On the contrary there was a time I was fed up, traveled out, homesick, lost a debit card and thought I had Dengue Fever while I was between Laos and Cambodia. If it weren’t for those isolated incidents at least 1, if not both of those would have made the list. Also something that’s probably inevitable is the more time I spent in a place the greater affinity I had for it. The countries I spent the most time in, New Zealand, Nepal & Vietnam, were almost automatic to the list. After reviewing this list it’s apparent my interactions with people trumped history, beauty or any other determining factor. Most notably the people on the Greek island of Santorini were JUST crass enough to overshadow it being one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited and, contrary to that, the people in Ireland were so over the top nice, that it edged out Argentina, Chile and Puru which were all amazing and all getting an honorable mention nod.. If you are curious about any other individual categories not mentioned go ahead and ask and I’ll give it a go.

-COUNTRIES-
Sri Lanka
Nepal
New Zealand
Indonesia
Malaysia
Vietnam
Italy
Morocco
Bolivia
Ireland

-CITIES-
Budapest
Berlin
Granada
Jerusalem
Rome
Amsterdam
Tokyo
Prague
Singapore
Cape Town

-TOWNS-
Gili T (Indonesia)
Ushuaia (Argentina)
Lake Wanaka (New Zealand)
Langkawi (Malaysia)
Chefchaouen (Morocco)
Ubud (Bali, Indonesia)
Namche Bazar (Nepal)
Dharmshala (India)
Perhentian’s (Malaysia)
Van Vieng (Laos)

-TREKS-
Everest Base Camp (Nepal)
Torres del Paine (Chile)
Annapurna Circuit (Nepal)
Milford (New Zealand)
Routeburn (New Zealand)
Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Able Tasman (New Zealand)
Mt. Fitzroy (Argentina)
Overland Track (Tasmania)
Tongariro Circuit (New Zealand)

-INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES-
Food city- Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Food country- France
Beach- Matapouri Bay (NZ)
Nature- New Zealand
Scenery- Antarctica
Nicest people- Ireland
Most authentic- Sri Lanka
Diving- Komodo Island (Indonesia)
Enlightening- India
Humbling- Antarctica
History- Israel
Temple- Angkor Wat (Cambodia)
Ancient city- Petra (Jordan)
Palace- Alhambra (Spain)
Church- St. Peter’s (Italy)
Sunsets- Malaysia
Sunrises- New Zealand
Mountain views- Patagonia (Chile/Argentina)
Waterfall- Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Wildlife- Tanzania
Nightlife- Berlin
Bar scene- Ireland
Reggae bar- Sama Sama (Gili T, Indonesia)
Beach bar- Babylon (Langkawi, Malaysia)
Dive bar- Szimpla (Budapest)
Overall bar- Baxter Inn (Sydney)
Festival- Oktoberfest (Munich)
Individual party- St. Paddy’s (Dublin)
Hottest women- Gili T (Indonesia)
Cheapest room- Sapa, Vietnam ($2)
Cheapest int. flight- Bali to Singapore ($21)
Best Airport- Singapore

Bob