(1) Times Square, New York City, U.S.
Once synonomous with nightmarish decline and decadence during the 1970s, Times Square long ago morphed into a waking dreamland of flickering neon lights. A mass gathering place in the heart of Manhattan, this attraction is particularly popular on New Year’s Eve when revellers gather to watch the ball drop on a new annum.
(2) Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
A city of secrets, Las Vegas may also be the most honest place on Earth. Every desire, every taste, every whim, be it repulsive or refined, finds an outlet in this other-worldly place in the desert, perhaps nowhere more than along the famous Strip, a must-see testament to human ingenuity, creativity and excess.
(3) Faneuil Hall, Boston, U.S.
A former cathedral of early American commerce that once bore the stain of slavery, Faneuil Hall has retained its relevance into the 21st Century. Each year, 18 million visit the more than 100 specialty shops that now occupy this American agora whose walls once echoed the revolutionary words of Samuel Adams and George Washington.
(4) Disneyland Park, Anaheim, U.S.
The Granddaddy of all Disney-themed parks around the world continues to loom large in the public’s imagination, if only for the fact that its iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle pays tribute to another global attraction, Germany’s Schloss Neuschwanstein, as built by Bavarian king Ludwig II, the world’s original prince of imagination. The site has kept up with the times by adding new features such as the popular Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
(5) Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
Like Istanbul itself, the Grand Bazaar straddles two worlds — the world of modern commerce and the world of Islamic traditions. In a city full of icons (Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Bosphorus Bridge, to name a few), the Grand Bazaar may manifest the essence of Turkey itself: a rich past and a prosperous future.
(6) Pier 39, San Francisco, U.S.
The days when the City by the Bay was truly an outpost of civilization clinging to the edge of a continent, are long gone. Now it is the epicentre of the global digital revolution. Modernity has not been kind to sections of the city. Pier 39 at the edge of the historic Fishermen’s Wharf has become a tourist trap, but it redeems itself with views of local landmarks (Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz) and the nearby sealife.
(7) Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront, Hong Kong, China
One is likely to feel very safe as one walks along the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront in Hong Kong. The righteous martial arts hero, Bruce Lee — albeit only in the form of a statue — keeps a watchful eye on this movie-themed promenade, which also happens to offer superb views of Victoria Harbour.
(8) Everland, Yongin, Gyeonggi-Do Province, South Korea
The largest theme park in South Korea, Everland opened in 1976. While it features theme park elements, it also has a literary bent, dedicating a portion to the fables of Aesop. This unique mixture attracted 6.8 million visitors in 2011.
(9) Bourbon Street, New Orleans, U.S.
Whether New Orleans will ever fully recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina remains a question others will have to answer. Yet Bourbon Street — the heart of the city’s historic French District — continues to regain its status as one of the world’s greatest party streets.
(10) Hollywood Walk of Fame/Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles, U.S.
Some may come for the chance to catch a morsel of Hollywood magic. Others may wish to stroll the Hollywood Walk of Fame along Hollywood Boulevard. Still others may simply come for a chance to marvel at one of the most unique cinematic palaces in the world, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Whatever the motivation — get ready for your closeup.
