Why These Cities Fail to Reach Top 50

Updated 12/2007

Before I reveal my Top 10 Favorite places in the world, first, let me reveal the list of cities that are among the favorites by many travelers (or at least those who vote in some travel magazines' surveys) but were NOT selected into my Top 50. Yes, I did pay a visit to these places before (it's not like Kinshasa or Karachi, which I REALLY have never been to). And there are reasons why they are not in my Top 50. Yes, there are some really big shockers here....

- Florence, Italy: As Rome, I have only been there once, in 1991, with an unsophisticated Taiwanese tour group. But unlike my stay in Rome, I had only half a day in Florence (Though in that half day, we witnessed a robbery by a motorcyclist, welcome to Italy!). I did not even have time to walk to see the exterior of Uffizi Museum! This is the birth place of the Renaissance and I barely even saw anything! I returned to Italy in summer 2007 but stayed only in area near Rimini (Florence is 5 hours away by train). For a city this fascinating, a returned visit is a must (and I will leave at least 3 days for it)!

- Tokyo, Japan: Possibly rated as No. 1 by many of my Taiwanese friends (yes, we Taiwanese just love Japan, unlike Chinese...). It is the most prosperous city in Asia and a real world metropolis. But just like most other Asian capitals, it is overcrowded and very stressful. Though I have been traveling through its airport many times in the past 15 years, I haven't really got into the city for more than 20 years. I will need to drop by again to know if I can love it as Hong Kong and Bangkok.

- Melbourne, Australia: Sydney is in Top 50 but Melbourne is not....Sorry about that to some of my Aussi friends! (I know how much you dislike Sydneysiders :P) But I just feel I like Sydney better. Period. But also, last time when in Melbourne I was sick with some digestion problems (another problems when traveling with Taiwanese group - they just feed us too much food! Yes, I am complaining). I didn't get to see much of that city, except those penguins on Phillip Island...

- Copenhagen, Oslo, and Helsinki: Why does Stockholm get into Top 50 (No. 16, to be exact) but the other Scandinavian capitals do not? Sorry, Claus Jan, Kjersti, and Nina, I do love your countries no less than Sweden. Though all three cities are all nice, civilized and cultured (and people are all multi-lingual), but then, they are just not as beautiful as Stockholm. But I will remember my Danish and Norwegian friends' invitation. After my next return visit, Oslo and Copenhagen should all be in Top 50!

- Cities of Bulgaria: I visited Bulgaria both the summer of 2006 and 2007 and partially witnessed the rapid changes of this lovely country. Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, and Varna (on Black Sea Coast), they are all good and interesting in very different ways. However, none of them is actually unique enough to grab a Top 50 spot. However, Bulgaria as a whole, I have to speak out that it would definitely rank in my Top 20 countries.

- Cairo and Luxor, Egypt: I admire the pyramids and the temples. I even love the anthropological museum in Cairo, but those places are too chaotic to love. I also never like people hassling me all the time and don't take no for answers, which is a constant thing a traveler has to put up with in Egypt. That's why I do appreciate what I saw there but no Egyptian city or town is in my Top 50.

- Cities of Namibia: I briefly thought about put Swakopmund, Namibia in my Top 50. But the second thought told me this town is not really that special but just too touristy. Overall, Namibia is a great and an unforgettable destination, but most memorable places are mostly in its countryside but not town or cities. So again, I would put Namibia in my Top 20 countries but none of its individual cities can make it to my Top 50.

- Honolulu, USA: A former Top 5 cities of mine when I was still in my...teens? The first ever US city I have ever visited. Unfortunately, after being away for more than 20 years, I hardly remember anything about it. So, no, it cannot stay in Top 50!

- Boston, USA: Another very high profile and valued US city that is excluded from my list. This was where I went to school when I moved to the US more than 10 years ago (Yes, that big H University). But be honest, I never really enjoyed my experience in Boston. That must have been among the most miserable years in my life. Yes, it is easy to get around by public transportation, and yes, it is very sophisticated, and even relatively multi-cultural. However, I felt people there are very rude and arrogant and it was quite hard to make friends. Definitely one of the most unfriendly cities in the world. So no, it is not in Top 50 and possibly never will be.

- Tijuana, Mexico: Mmm...Are you joking? It is lucky that it is not in bottom 10 LOL...

And last, but not the least, maybe the biggest shocker of all. One of my former No 1 city now does not even make it to Top 50...

...

.... - New York City, USA: No, NYC is not even in my Top 50. A former No 1 for several years when I only had Top 20 (instead of 50) but now it is officially and solidly out of Top 50. Talking about the effects of "personal deduction"! Judging on many things I feel about New York (culture, food, ease of getting around, etc), it should definitely be in Top 20 (or Top 10 indeed). However, many personal misfortune I experienced in that three years as New Yorker really make it difficult for me to love it without reservation. Don't want to bother you my "tragic affairs" with NYC again and again, just to let you know, it is not in Top 50, mainly for my personal reasons...

So, after another negative round of ranting, now we are off to the No. 10 to No. 6....