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Blue Chips
Lonely Planet’s Bluelist tells you which travel spots are red-hot
for 2008
 Another travel tome to add
to your collection. If you take pride in seeking out secret locales
away from tired tourist traps and overhyped sights, Lonely Planet’s
Bluelist: The Best in Travel 2008 has named its picks in
categories such as the world’s most eco-friendly club, strangest
museum and friendliest country. The book also identifies the
best trends, destinations, journeys and experiences that any traveler
worth his Samsonites should keep within his radar. So if you’re
planning to kick off the New Year with a well-deserved jaunt, these
Bluelist picks might just come in handy yet.
 LAOS:
BEST-VALUE DESTINATION
Been to
Vietnam
and done Cambodia? Time to check Laos out. “Laos is unique in its
region – its relative isolation from foreign influence means
travellers are in for a remarkably well-preserved slice of traditional
Southeast Asian culture, everywhere from the fertile lowlands of the
Mekong River valley to the rugged Annamite highlands,” notes Bluelist.
Cultural buffs will love ancient temples and monasteries, while
eco-tourists can look forward to “tremendous caving and kayaking
opportunities in the country’s large, unspoiled forests”.
 GUANGZHOU,
CHINA: CITY ON THE RISE
Guangzhou
may just be the Cinderella out of its attention-seeking sibs, Shanghai
and Beijing. What its got going for it? Ancient architecture and
traditions, green scenery and renowned Cantonese cuisine, among other
attractions. “And now there’s also a ramped-up infrastructure, with a
few hundred billion yuan being pumped into improving facilities in
preparation for the city’s hosting of the 2010 Asian Games.”
SOUTH KOREA:
COUNTRY ON THE RISE
For the final time, there’s more to
Korea than its tear-jerky TV drama serials. And while South Korea’s
capital, Seoul, buzzes with infectious energy, and history and
religion jostle for space in the south, it’s the country’s natural
wonders that you should pay heed to. States Bluelist, “… the country’s
spectacular national parks finally coming to visitor notice” and
“around 70 percent of the country is mountainous, and the country’s 20
national parks offer endless hiking opportunities”.
+ Chan Hse May
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