Yet even with UNESCO’s imprimatur on sites big and small, natural biospheres and even intangible culture, the same famous mega-monuments always seem to get the lion’s share of travel love. Lesser-known but equally worthy sites still fall to the wayside as travellers rush for the obligatory photos of world icons and check off another legendary site on the do-before-I-die lists.

UNESCO recognition through its World Heritage List and time in the subsequent travel spotlight can be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, a new site gets a big status boost and protection under the UNESCO umbrella. On the other hand, an influx of tourists adds pressures and more need for protection.

One way to curb this effect is for travellers to visit alternative heritage destinations where high tourism congestion isn’t causing problems. In that spirit, below is our list of seven UNESCO World Heritage all-stars plus just-as-incredible alternatives. Why not avoid the heavy traffic and step lightly while doing your own thing? That way, the all-stars won’t get loved to death and more places will have a chance to benefit. The photos will be just as cool.

The All-star: Chichén Itzá in Cancun, Mexico. Photo courtesy of flickr/Dtraveller

1. The All-Star: Chichén Itzá in Yucatan, Mexico

The iconic Mayan pyramid of Chichén Itzá was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988. Then, in 2007, it was nominated for the New Seven Wonders of the World. Now that it has officially been identified as one of the honoured seven, some predict tourist visits will double within five years. As a convenient day trip from the mass-tourism destination of Cancun, Chichén Itzá, given its amazing story and stunning coastal location, is the second-most-visited ruins site in Mexico. Authorities have gradually needed to close parts of the monument to the public, no longer allowing visitors to enter interior chambers.

The Alternative: Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico. Photo courtesy of flickr/Ivanka Majic

The Alternative: Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico

Deep in the jungle of Chiapas in southern Mexico are the ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Palenque, which was inscribed as an official UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. While it doesn’t attract the kind of mass tourism that Chichén Itzá does, thousands visit it each year. Guided tours fascinate with stories about the buildings’ precise astronomical alignment and visitors can still go into some of the ancient passages and chambers.

The All-star: The Great Wall of China. Photo courtesy of wikimedia/Jakub Halun

2. The All-Star: Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is one of the best-known world monuments of all time, but added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1987. The Badaling section of the wall, near Beijing, attracts around 10 million visitors per year. Sadly, as a result, Geography in the News points out that “There is little concern over protection and conservation. Instead, exploitation of the site has culminated in an almost Disneyland type scene.” Booming tourism, development and inadequate protection are eating away at the Great Wall, of which as much as two-thirds are in a state of collapse.

The Alternative: Wall of Ston, Croatia. Photo courtesy of flickr/Poo-tee-weet?

The Alternative: Walls of Ston in Croatia

While nothing can really compare with the magnitude and might of the Great Wall of China, it is definitely not the only great wall in the world. In the historical city of Dubrovnik on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, for example, are the Walls of Ston, known as the “European Wall of China.” It dates back to the 15th century and its 5.5 kilometres of length form an irregular pentangle.

The All-star: The Parthenon, Athens, Greece. Photo courtesy of wikimedia/Steve Swayne

3. The All-Star: Parthenon in Athens, Greece

Lit up and glowing over Athens, Greece at night, the Parthenon is the jewel of the Acropolis, the ancient city on a hill. As the grandest remains of Greek Antiquity, the Acropolis was deemed an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Greece is a world tourism powerhouse, welcoming more than 17.5 million visitors each year. In 2005, Athens alone received 6,088,287 tourists (each of them wanting a photo of the Parthenon without any other tourists in it).

The Alternative: Temple of Bacchus, Baalbek, Lebanon. Photo courtesy of flickr/Ben Piven

The Alternative: Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek, Lebanon

One of five of Lebanon‘s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Baalbek demonstrates that Greece is definitely not the only Mediterranean country with amazing ancient ruins. As UNESCO states about the ancient imperial city, “The archaeological site of Baalbek represents a religious complex of outstanding artistic value and its majestic monumental ensemble, with its exquisitely detailed stonework, is a unique artistic creation which reflects the amalgamation of Phoenician beliefs with the gods of the Greco-Roman pantheon through an amazing stylistic metamorphosis.”

The All-star: Medina of Fes, Morocco. Photo courtesy of wikimedia/Pawel Ryszawa

4. The All-Star: Medina of Fes, Morocco

Compared to Marrakech (one of Morocco‘s most famous destinations), the city of Fes is a modest place. Yet every visitor to inland Fes is bound to wander through its medina, the walled city centre that dates back to the 8th century. By some measures, it’s the largest car-free area in the world.

The Medina of Fes has been on the official UNESCO World Heritage roster since 1981, but may soon also be added to the list of World Heritage in Danger. UNESCO cites two major threats: uncontrolled urban development due to overpopulation, and deterioration of the buildings. The governmental plan to address these issues is to safeguard everything, intervene where houses are collapsing and increase sustainable tourism.

The Alternative: Medina of Tétouan, Morocco. Photo courtesy of flickr/luisgosalbez

The Alternative: Medina of Tétouan, Morocco

In the smaller and less-touristed city of Tétouan in northern Morocco, another medina has gained World Heritage status. Full of mosques, madrassas and markets, Tétouan’s ancient city centre exhibits the same definitive Moroccan culture and tradition as its better-known counterparts in Fes and other cities. While also in need of protection and conservation, Téotuan is less overwhelmed than the Medina of Fes and in a better position to absorb increasing tourism traffic.

The All-star: Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Photo courtesy of flickr/daveperkes

5. The All-Star: Angkor Wat, Cambodia

A spectacular temple complex from the 12th century, Angkor Wat has been a power player for tourism in Cambodia since before its 1992 inauguration as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Thomas Holdo Hansen of AngkorHotels.org, the whl.travel local connection in Cambodia, comments that “Angkor would without doubt be on my personal Top 10 World Heritage Sites list. It’s not without good reason that this important archaeological site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and comes high up on many people’s must-see lists. The flip side of the coin is that the recent increase in tourism potentially can bring about many negative impacts if not managed properly.”

The Alternative: Preah Vihear, Cambodia. Photo courtesy of flickr/theonlymikey

The Alternative: Preah Vihear, Cambodia

Compared to Angkor Wat, Preah Vihear is a minor temple complex. It’s a less-likely tourism destination because of political strife. “Preah Vihear is more controversial but still a stunning archaeological site,” says Hansen. “It is situated right on the top edge of a steep cliff bordering the Sisaket Province in Thailand. After its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, Preah Vihear has been the centre stage for some border conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia and, thus, many travellers have been discouraged from visiting.”

“]

The All-star: Machu Picchu, Peru. Photo courtesy of flickr/[togr

6. The All-Star: Machu Picchu, Peru

The year 2011was special for South America’s favourite pre-Colombian archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It marked 100 years since Hiram Bingham, a Yale University historian, arrived at the majestic high-elevation Incan citadel and announced its existence to the rest of the world. Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Since then, UNESCO has had to fight many battles to protect it from private interests and overdevelopment, including the implementation of a daily visitor limit. Still, safe-keepers fear irreparable damage if poor administration continues in the face of surging tourism.

The Alternative: Wiñay Wayna, Peru. Photo courtesy of flickr/Greg Headley

The Alternative: Wiñay Wayna, Peru

Also along the Inca Trail in the Sacred Valley of Peru where Machu Picchu is found, Wiñay Wayna is a minor Incan ruins site that is often considered a mere “stop in the road” on the way to Machu Picchu. While it’s true that it can’t match Machu Picchu’s scale and grandeur, Wiñay Wayna charms and impresses. With staircases and fountain structures connecting the layers of terrace, it is a perfect example of the hillside architecture traditional to the Incas.

The All-star: The Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt. Photo courtesy of Bruno Girin

7. The All-Star: Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

The Pyramids of Giza were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. They are, of course, Egypt‘s most visited attraction. In 1999, the largest of the three pyramids was reopened after a year of restoration work. The project’s goal was to undo some of the damage caused by long-term exposure to mass tourism. According to the BBC, “humidity levels in the tunnels and chambers inside had reached 80 percent because of the sheer volume of people going in,” which caused condensation and a build-up of salt. Since then, a cap of 300 visitors per day has been set on pyramid access.

The Alternative: The Pyramids of Gebel Barkal, Sudan. Photo courtesy of flickr/shovelingtom

The Alternative: Pyramids of Gebel Barkal, Sudan

The Pyramids of Gebel Barkal are part of the larger Gebel Barkal mountain site, which was approved as a UNESCO cultural World Heritage Site in 2003. It is one of only two in the country of Sudan. The Kushitic pyramids themselves were built as a royal cemetery in the 3rd century, which makes them only half as old as and very modest in size compared to the likes of the Great Pyramids of neighbouring Egypt. Travel to Sudan is complicated at the moment, but pieces of cultural heritage like this already under UNESCO protection hold promise for a tourism future.

What exactly is a flash mob? It’s a 21st-century fusion of performing arts, Internet culture and widespread fun. A group secretly choreographs a song-and-dance routine to perform without warning in a public place and to the total surprise and delight of a crowd of random bystanders. At the end, the performers disperse back into the crowd without leaving a trace, as if the whole thing were a fantastic dream.

The term ‘flash mob’ was first used in 2003, when some of the first flash mobs were organised. Since then, hundreds of have been staged all over the world. One example that has reached the highest levels of fame is the Sound of Music flash mob in the Central Station of Antwerp (Belgium).

In their purest form, flash mobs are created for the sake of dance, culture and fun. In recent years, however, communications and advertising strategists have caught on to their appeal and commercially produced flash mobs for their ‘viral video’ potential.

Whatever the reason for their existence, flash mobs in airports have helped thousands beat the boredom of long delays and layovers. Here is a roundup of our favourite airport flash mobs.

Edmonton, Canada: Unite for More Flights Flash Mob

The video for this flash mob was posted on May 26, 2011. It’s part of a publicity campaign on behalf of Edmonton International Airport (EIA) in Canada. The airport’s ‘Unite For More Flights’ effort aims to attract more flights to its destination. Strategically, the video is linked to EIA’s Facebook page, where fans can enter to win iPods and iPads.

The flash mob video comes across as commercial, especially when the dancers break out the signs around minute 3:14. Even so, the dancers capture the spirit of fun, breezing with huge smiles and flawless precision through their routine. Especially impressive are the breakdancing runway men. All and all, this video and the surrounding campaign score big points for creativity in destination promotion.

Singapore: Million Dollar Flash Mob in Changi Airport

Like the Edmonton flash mob, this production was also part of an advertising campaign. Singapore’s Changi Airport turned heads last year with its “shop at Changi airport for your chance to win a million dollars” contest.

The performance begins with a little skit. A girl has ‘won’ the million-dollar prize and the dancing is a celebration that she ignites. The music montage even has a get-rich theme to it, but the best part of this video is the way the dance mob grows and grows – what starts out as a few dancers in the beginning expands to a cast of hundreds. Well done, Changi Airport!

Portugal: Lisbon Airport and TAP Celebrate Christmas Flash Mob Style

The Lisbon Airport flash mob was produced, also a commercial production for the high traffic of the Christmas season, on December 23, 2009. The sponsors were the Lisbon Airport and TAP, the national airline of Portugal.

The video gets off to a slow (and very Christmas-y) start, but by 1:39 it warms up to a funkier beat. From there, the music montage delves into doo-wop, samba, disco, rock and even Bollywood beats before circling back around to Christmas cheer at the very end.

Lebanon: Beirut Duty-Free Rocks Airport with Dabke Dance

The funding behind the Beirut Airport flash mob, which took place in March 2011, came from Beirut Duty-Free. Its ‘Take More Back’ advertising campaign encourages travellers to spend more money in the Beirut Airport. Shopping, however, is the last thing on the minds of the lucky onlookers as the performers make everyone in the terminal want to drop everything and dance!

This amazing flash mob scores big for the fusion of dabke (traditional Lebanese dance) with hip-hop. Bravo, Beirut Duty-Free! The travellers who witnessed this incredible event will take back a once-in-a-lifetime memory of Lebanon.

Heathrow, UK: The T-Mobile Welcome Back

Weighing in as the the most virally popular of all airport flash mobs, the T-Mobile Welcome Back has hit almost 9 million views. With such a giant corporate sponsor, it is no wonder that only the most top-notch talent is on display.

Unlike the other airport flash mobs, live singing is more central to the performance than choreography. Astoundingly, no instruments were used in the film’s making. Vocals range from beat boxing to a human violin to a bass singer solo at 1:23. The musical montage is themed with songs about travel and coming home. Even better than the incredible musical skill are the expressions of complete delight on the spectators’ faces. T-Mobile wins 1st place in our airport flash mob line-up.  Worth sharing!

Cindy is native to Lebanon.  She started working with Lebanon.travel in 2008 as a reservations agent, recommending off-the-beaten-track spots for travellers who wanted something a bit more spicy than shopping in downtown Beirut. Then in September 2010, she took on a new role as marketing and communications manager.

Lebanon.travel has a team of knowledgeable, energetic tourism professionals. The group’s expertise in e-commerce and online travel makes it a valuable part of the whl.travel family. When not online, the staff – Ron, Pia and Cindy – are out enjoying the amazing skiing and snowboarding in their own backyard and exploring the rest of the world whenever they get the chance.

Whoever said skiing in the Middle East is a mirage must never have been to Mzaar, Lebanon, a favourite place for Cindy Nehme to go in her spare time at home! Photo courtesy of Cindy Nehm

WHL Group: Which is your favourite WHL Group destination and which would you most like to visit?
Cindy: I would very much like to visit Thailand, particularly Phuket. The closest I’ve been to Thailand is eating Thai food in an Abu Dhabi mall. I have heard a lot about the beautiful landscapes, motorcycle rides and Full Moon Parties.

WHLG: What would you never travel without?
Cindy: A camera, my Converse shoes and a big, fat smile!

WHLG: What do you miss most about home when travelling?
Cindy: The 24-hour dine-ins!

WHLG: What’s the most adventurous trip you’ve ever taken?
Cindy: The first summer Euro-trip I took with my friends. We visited Amsterdam, Paris, Venice and Rome. We travelled by trains, water ferries, cars, planes, you name it! We interacted with locals and fellow travellers, ate with them and partied with them. It was so amazing the first time that it became an annual thing.

Cindy Nehme in Amsterdam, always packed and ready for new adventures. Photo courtesy of Cindy Nehme

WHLG: What is your funniest travel experience?
Cindy: I once worked as an animatrice (play coordinator) for kids in Qatar and had to put on these fluffy mascot costumes. The funny part is that the majority of the audience was adults!

WHLG: What is your scariest travel experience?
Cindy: On a recent trip to Jordan, the plane was on vibration mode throughout the flight!

WHLG: If you could go on holiday with anyone famous – living or dead – who would you take?
Cindy: Thom Yorke of Radiohead and his guitar!

WHLG: Describe the best and worst accommodation you’ve ever stayed in.
Cindy: I’ve stayed in both hotels and hostels. The best hostel I have stayed in is the Bull Dog in Amsterdam. Great vibes, amazing location, very neat and clean, and surprisingly comfortable bunk beds. Plus, you meet travellers and backpackers from around the world. As opposed to the Yellow Hostel in Paris, which was not comfortable at all and not a pleasant atmosphere.

A rainbow shines through some cold rainy weather while Cindy Nehme is visiting Venice, Italy. Photo courtesy of Cindy Nehme

WHLG: Describe your earliest travel memory.
Cindy: The first time I travelled, I went to Paris with my family. It was Christmastime, with beautiful decorations across the Champs-Elysées and lots of snow. I must have been five years old at the time and I was really overwhelmed by the beauty of this city.

WHLG: Please briefly explain what you think local travel is.
Cindy: Local travel is being in a relationship with the new destination. Have its breakfast, walk its streets, discover its corners, celebrate its own uniqueness. It’s a more personal approach than just reading about it in a travel guide.

WHLG: In what ways do you see local travel benefiting the country in which you live?
Cindy: Lebanon is very rich, culturally and historically. Unfortunately, the best parts of it are overshadowed by the commercial touristic sites. Local travel will allow the discovery of these untainted spots, while also encouraging interaction and cultural exchange with the locals. It simply enriches your travel experience.

Exactly one year ago, we started featuring one picture each week on The Travel Word. We spotlighted favourite images pulled from our growing collections on Flickr (here and here).

We also asked the photographer or owner of each selected Photo of the Week to submit a short and revealing text about it – covering the subject of the photo, the general location, the experience of taking the picture, technical aspects of photography etc.

These text-image combinations have proven to be very popular. We believe that this has a lot to do with the special emphasis we have placed on the honesty of the image. All taken or sourced by our franchise partners, who are local travel experts in their destinations, they conveyed (we believe) something special. We weren’t looking for postcard images, even if we did end up focusing on a gorgeous sunset or backlit kid. We still always knew we were looking at a place through the eyes of someone who’s seen lots of kids and sunsets and knows their worth or when a scene comes along that really is exceptional.

The Shortlist

Our methods were decidedly unscientific. For each month, The Travel Word team singled out one photo of the month. To this list of 12 we added four wild cards that had made a particular impression on us. This list of 16 we put to a group of five skilled photographers for their assessment.

Below is the resulting list of nine images, ranked in order, with comments from the judges:

.

+ Winner: Photo of the Year: The Dazzling Colours of Sunset, the Maldives

Comments:
“Nice composition, perfect exposure. I like that the photographer chose
to silhouette the people and the bridge. It definitely makes me want
to be there!”

“This stunning sunset in the Maldives is a classic example of being in the very-right place at the very-right time. What separates this sunset photo from most is the focus the people on the pier gives the viewer. Taking us far away and drawing us into the scene, in doing so we end up wishing that we ourselves were right there in the photo.”

“Sunsets never get old, and this one is quite spectacular. There is something really inviting about the whole scene, and I deeply envy those people on the pier.”

.

+ First Runner Up: Mt Yasur Eruption, Tanna Island, Vanuatu

Comments:
“I like the abstract quality of this image. Proper exposure could be
challenging and this is nicely done.”

“I’ve never seen a live volcano up close, and given that I live in Brooklyn in New York City, I count that as a good thing. This view of a sudden and unexpectedly powerful eruption is an instantly-accessible peek into a foreign world. I like the easy way it reminds me of everything we don’t expect to run into in the course of a regular day.”

.

+ Second Runner Up: Boats Bob in the Waters of Melissani Lake, Kefalonia, Greece

Comments:
“Crystal-clear waters in a shocking blue against the weathered gray stones of the surrounding cave walls – what’s not to like? This image has a simplicity and a purity to it. It’s a casually-composed shot, a day in the life of some guys who just happen to work in this incredibly beautiful spot.”

“I chose this one because it just had it all. The photograph itself is beautiful, it is wonderfully shot and of a spectacular moment in what looks to be an amazing place.”

.

Other Favourites of Our Judges:

+ Yummy Penny Bun Mushrooms in Latvia

Comments:
“This basket of mushrooms picked in Latvia looks simply stunning. The photographer has found a whole world of textures and rich colours framed by the equally tactile grass and basket. The high contrast and dappled light creates a larger-than-life image that makes me crave mushroom soup.”

“Here’s a beautifully composed image that has a nearly artificial tone to it suggesting a leisurely adventure that’s always fantastic: mushroom picking. The photograph with its colors, the arrangement of the mushrooms in a basket, takes the viewer right back to fairy tales and stories of enchanted forests.”

.

+ Gorillas in Our Midst, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

Comments:
“Gorillas make very good models and the one in this picture is nearly human in its cinematographic expression. The image has a curious temporality as it freezes the movement of a beast that’s decidedly about to do something. The frame is suggestive of movement and one is tempted to imagine what’s beyond the frame and beyond the time frozen in it.”

“This handsome portrait of the gorilla really struck me. You can really feel the impact of his stare through the photograph; it was captured perfectly. I really have to give it to the photographer for getting that close.”

.

+ Sifting Rice for the Day in Muang Sing, Luang Namtha, Laos

Comment:
“This photo of a girl carrying out what is for her a day-to-day chore offers for the casual viewer a brief window into her world in a photo filled with context and brought to life with action. In the background, the rural character of her village on stilts is clear and everything about her from her unwashed clothes to her slight Mona-Lisa smile gives you a wealth of detail in this brief snapshot of her day. Contrasting this detail the rice is a blurred fountain of movement and adds a bit of magic to the every-day.”

.

+ Traditional Soap Making, Tripoli, Lebanon

Comment:
“Travel photography is a genre where the portrayed object is more important than the image itself. It’s a matter of finding the most peculiar scene, place or event and then register that in a way that is pleasant to look at. A row of ladies stirring soap in steamy cauldrons is as catchy as a photograph can be.”

.

.

.

+ Fire-Knife Dancing in Samoa

Comment:
“I love fire as a photographic element; it’s stark and full of motion, and when you capture it right you can almost hear the sizzle and crackle. This shot made me think about how performance is a kind of shorthand, in some ways. While the picture was taken at a hotel during a cultural program, it still evokes dark nights on sandy beaches, on foreign shores.”

.

.

+ Young Novice Monks in Vientiane, Laos

Comment:
“Very nice shot of the playful interaction. Many people are too intimidated to photograph strangers, but the people we meet are such an essential part of the experience.”

.

.

The Judges

We extend sincere thanks to our five judges for their time and effort. We value their professional opinions and their readiness to share them with us.

+ Ian DeLaune is a New York-based artist working primarily with issues of media and information dissemination, and drawing on a wide array of digital and analogue techniques. He received his MFA in 1998 from SVA and currently works and teaches at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.

+ Linus Gelber is a photographer from New York City, where he shoots cityscapes and live performances (notably burlesque) and sees way too many movies, if such a thing is possible. His work is represented by Getty Images. Linus would like to go to Antarctica one day, and if you knew how he felt about New York winters you’d think that was weird too.

+ Richard Jephcote has taught traditional photography and Photoshop in colleges in North London and created several films through the artistic collective Tea Fuelled Art, which he co-founded with writer/composer George Lewkowicz and artist Katherine Harding. In addition to freelancing in photography/design and filmmaking, he has been pursuing an MA in Filmmaking (specialising in cinematography).

+ Born in Brazil, Rafael Pinho took up photography after finishing his architecture studies. He set out as a freelancer in 2005 in Belo Horizonte and spent the following years between Berlin, Reykjavík and São Paulo. His work has appeared in Modern Painters (US), Forum AID (Sweden), FFW Mag! (Brazil), Nýtt Líf (Iceland), Trip and Tpm (Brazil).

+ Although Jennie Zeiner received her undergraduate degree in Journalism, it is her images that have appeared in Reader’s Digest, Fast Company, Forbes, Money Magazine, Inc., BusinessWeek, Newsweek, ComputerWorld, Utne Reader and Village Voice. Her corporate/advertising work has been used by Bank of America, General Motors, FedEx, FCB, VISA, Mastercard, Larry King, Disney Latin America and Discovery Network.

This photo shows the soap-making process in Tripoli, in the North of Lebanon. Traditional soap is made from oil, which is itself produced from locally harvested olives. The olive oil must be boiled for six hours in large cauldrons, while being constantly stirred to ensure a smooth consistency. Other ingredients are then added and heated briefly to achieve a creamy paste. The artisan then adds the perfumes and puts in the chosen colouring. Each soap reflects a theme: black, blue and white for winter, whereas spring is announced with a mix of pink, yellow and green.

The molten soap is then left to congeal overnight before being sliced into blocks or shaped into balls, which are finally aired for about a month. A final buffing gives the soap additional shine.

Soap-making has played a major role in Tripoli’s history and has long been regarded as a key part of its identity. There are several prominent factories that operate throughout the city, and a whole market (or souk) is dedicated to the buying and selling of soap. Soap is an important component in the hammam, or public baths, which are themselves a major institution in Lebanese society.

There is a museum in the southern city of Sidon that is completely dedicated to explaining the significance of artisanship when it comes to Lebanese soap and to the history of its production.

This post was updated on 15 November 2010 to amend an error. Tripoli is, of course, not the capital of Lebanon. Apologies for any confusion caused.

This tasty snack comes in a variety of different flavours and it seems as if each neighbourhood has its signature man'oushe. It can be baked in a brick oven for a slightly plumper bread or rolled out thin and cooked on top of a domed griddle called a saj. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Nsaum75

The All-Day Breakfast

For a country overflowing with street food outlets from the humble pushcart to the more upmarket corner shop, it’s a tough call to crown one particular delicacy king of the cheap eats in Lebanon. If there must be one clear winner, however, it has to be the humble man’oushe, a freshly baked unleavened bread spread liberally with za’atar (an aromatic mix of thyme, sumac spice, sesame seeds and olive oil), which could almost be thought of as a tasty Lebanese take on pizza. It’s served folded, which means it’s perfect for eating on the hoof and makes an ideal breakfast treat on the way to work. The nation’s favourite snack has a number of variations, including a cheese topping using jibneh arabieh (similar to feta) or a ground beef topping called lahmeh. Throw in a few chopped tomatoes and olives and you’ve got yourself one heck of a tasty snack!

The quintessential Maltese snack, pastizzi are pastries baked with either a ricotta-cheese or mushy-pea filling. Found throughout the islands, they are one of the cheapest bites you can get. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Chattacha

Baked Goodness

The small archipelago of Malta, situated slap-bang in the middle of the Mediterranean, is famed for its delicious pastizzi. These delectable diamond-shaped puff-pastries are filled with ricotta cheese or mashed peas, and can be bought from small fast-food shops called pastizzeriji, which open especially early on Sunday mornings to serve late-night revellers headed home from a night out. The two varieties can easily be told apart as the more popular pastizzi tal-irkotta (ricotta pastry) has a hole in it to show off the delicious filling, while the pastizzi tal-pizelli (pea pastry) does not. Lovers of vernacular may be interested to note that the word pastizzi (singular pastizz) is also a derogatory term for female genitalia in colloquial Maltese, probably due to the pastry’s suggestive shape. Despite the connotation, the pastries are a source of national pride. No visit to Malta is complete without a cheap and tasty pastizz or two.

Vegetarians Beware

The Southern African nation of Namibia is well known as a land of meat lovers for whom not just any meat will do. Only artery-clogging red meat satisfies this nation’s carnivorous tendencies. Beef is big business here and barbecues, much like the braai in neighbouring South Africa, can be found in every town.

The Namibian version is known as kapana and consists of strips of beef and fat grilled to perfection on open stoves, generously seasoned with chilli, salt or peri-peri and served wrapped in newspaper. These tasty morsels can also be sandwiched in fried doughnut-type buns, fittingly called ‘fat cakes.’ The barbecuing is traditionally men’s work, but women are often on hand to help serve up the fat cakes. The perfectly prepared kapana has a strong, smoky barbecue flavour, with the meat succulent and juicy and the fat crisp on the outside. The bustling markets of Katutura township in the capital city of Windhoek are the best places to find this tasty soul food.

A Little Something for the Health Conscious

If you think the promise of a calorie-induced heart attack is a prerequisite to qualify as authentic street food, think again. The hot and sticky Indonesian climate means the refreshing street eat known as rujak (Malay for “mixture”) is a popular choice for snackers. It’s a simple concoction consisting of a cup of mixed fresh fruit or vegetables topped with rujak sauce and peanuts. The sweet and sour rujak sauce is similar to Chinese hoisin and is made from water, gula jawa (palm sugar), asem jawa (tamarind), ground peanuts, terasi (shrimp paste), salt and chilli.

Found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore (where it is known as rojak), rujak consists of sliced fruit or vegetables that are then covered in a sweet, sour and spicy dressing and topped off with chopped peanuts. There are innumerable variations of the ingredients and sauces, so no two rujaks need ever be the same! Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Gunkarta Gunawan Kartapranata

Popular ingredients in a typical fruit rujak include jambu air (water apple), pineapple, mango, jicama (turnip), cucumber, kedondong (hog plum) and raw ubi jalar (sweet potato). The tartness of the fruit is nicely offset by the sweetness of the sauce, but those preferring a saltier flavour can ask for some sambal garam powder (salt and ground red chilli) on the side. The mix of sweet, sour and spicy flavours is said to be particularly popular among pregnant women, which may explain why a special fruit rujak is served during traditional baby shower ceremonies called Tujuh bulanan (meaning “seventh month”) on the island of Java. Locals believe if the rujak tastes sweeter the baby will be a girl and if spicier it signifies a boy.

Doughy, greasy and stodgy, Chilean sopaipillas are the ultimate comfort food for those cold, rainy days. The steaming bowl of sopaipilla pasada shown here in the background is the sweet version, served in a delicious syrup called chancaca. There are plenty of savoury alternatives too if you don't have a sweet tooth. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Warko2006

And for the Not So Health Conscious

The popular fast food known as sopaipilla can be found all over Latin America, but the version in Chile packs a little extra something. Here, the fried circles of dough are made with cooked squash (a Chilean staple) and this versatile comfort food can be either sweet or savoury. A variation of the snack is found on the island of Chiloé, where potatoes (sweet or plain) are used instead of squash. Sopaipilla pasada is served in chancaca, a warm cane sugar syrup flavoured with orange peel and cinnamon. It’s a perfect winter warmer that is also traditionally eaten on rainy afternoons with a cup of tea as a carb-laden pick-me-up. The savoury alternatives substitute chancaca for pebre, a sauce made from tomatoes, chopped onion, oil, salt, and chopped coriander or parsley. Jalepeño sauces are also popular for a bit of kick. Sopaipilla vendors can be found throughout the country plying the streets with their pushcarts and this simple dish is also often served in restaurants to whet the appetite.

Rawcheh Rocks - in English, Pigeon Rocks - is a top tourist site in Beirut. The restaurants and coffee shops along the Rawcheh coastline are a great place for a night out and a popular spot with both locals and visitors.

Hay Fever

The Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts has been championing literary talent across the globe since 1988, with several celebrated events in Cartagena (Colombia), Maldives, Kerala (India) and Europe. Recent years have seen it dipping its toes in more exotic waters, with new Lit Fests in Beirut (Lebanon) and Kenya. Beirut 39, in April, was a collaborative effort between the Hay Festival and UNESCO to name Beirut the World Book Capital City in 2009 to showcase the 39 best Arab writers under the age of 39 and provide a forum for young, new talent to discuss its take on modern Arab literature.

Its second event, the three-day Storymoja Hay Festival scheduled for October in Nairobi, is the other new kid on the literary block. Begun by five passionate writers keen to bring East African literature onto the world stage and promote a strong culture of reading, literacy and social cohesion in their native Kenya, the organisers see the event as a catalyst in the ‘reading revolution.’ Although set up to identify and develop local writers, the festival does not limit itself to homegrown talent; noted international guest speakers have included the Indian poet and novelist Vikram Seth and the acclaimed British writer Hanif Kureishi.

Along the coastal route between Galle and Hambantota, stilt fishermen are a common sight. The best time to catch them at work is at dusk. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau)

Galle-ic Charm

In late January of each year, south of the Sri Lankan capital city of Colombo, the town of Galle is transformed into a literary mecca. Established in 2006 to boost much-needed tourism to the tsunami-riven area, the four-day Galle Literary Festival has really proven itself a darling of the book-lovers’ circuit. Attracting visitors by the thousands to a raft of literary superstars, the event garners rave reviews for its energetic mix of cultural diversions, great food, beautiful surroundings, and, of course, eminent guests. One of last year’s speakers, the famed historian Anthony Beevor, was impressed enough to declare “I have attended literary festivals on five different continents and Galle is simply the best.” High praise, indeed!

Scary Movie

A teenager’s dream, the Riga International Fantasy Film Festival in the capital city of the Baltic nation of Latvia features the latest movies from the sci-fi, thriller and horror genres. Given life by popular demand, the biennial event takes place from late April to early May and showcases both full-length features and, more recently, short films as well. Filmmakers lucky enough to win Best Film can look forward to taking home the coveted Golden Tooth award, with the Silver Tooth on offer as the Special Jury Prize!

Turkish Delight

Currently in its 13th year, the International 1001 Documentary Film Festival takes place in Istanbul, Turkey, at the end of October. The event showcases work from all over the world and places great emphasis on fostering open dialogue between filmmakers and audiences from different cultural backgrounds. Humanitarian values and cultural understanding are at the heart of this festival, and films must demonstrate an underlying message supporting this to feature in the event.

Essays and Canapés

Set in the Glamour Bar and the Crystal Room of the world-renowned celeb hang out, M on the Bund, the Shanghai International Literary Festival is a decidedly sophisticated and classy affair. Think intellectual debate and cerebral musings meets elegant cheese and wine soirée – a unique Shanghai shakeup. Going strong since 2002, this meeting of literary minds takes place over three weekends in March and has attracted distinguished talents such as Amy Tan, Gore Vidal, Arundhati Roy and Louis de Bernières.

Poetry and Prose in the Pink City

Considered the grande dame on the Asian scene, the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival in India already has a head start on the big-name front by way of its founder-directors: the esteemed writers William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale. The Jaipur event brings together a glittering cast of both national and international literary characters. Popular crowd pleasers have so far included Kiran Desai, Orhan Pamuk, Salman Rushdie and Donna Tartt. Not content to limit itself to a celebration of the written word, the festival also features film, music and theatre. Anyone interested should make sure to be in town from the 21st to 25th of January.

Tshila is a world-fusion musician from Uganda who began her career as a member of the pioneering Ugandan hip-hop group, Bataka Squad. Here she is pictured embarking on her solo career performing on stage at the Zanzibar International Film Festival in 2006. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Ugqueen)

Out of Africa

Billed as ‘so much more than a film festival,’ Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) has the honour of being the largest film, music and arts festival in East Africa. Movies are shown in various locations right across the island of Zanzibar and audiences can expect the full spectrum of celluloid entertainment from local shorts to world premieres, all in keeping with a changing yearly theme. Part festival, part carnival, the event is famed for its wild parties, live music and DJs nights, which continue throughout the entire two weeks and culminate in an awards night celebrating the best picks. Never forgetting its roots, ZIFF is all about promoting local talent in film and music and offers cultural tours, exhibitions and workshops in the local community.

Freedom of Expression

The largest and most prestigious event of its kind in Mexico, the 10-day Expresión en Corto International Film Festival, in the last week of July, has been going strong since 1997. Over 80,000 people swoop on the cities of San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato Capital to enjoy 10 days of screenings featuring over 400 films. Fun quirks of the fest include the projection of horror movies in the municipal graveyards (panteónes) and showings of gay, lesbian, erotic and underground films in the subterranean streets of Guanajuato Capital. In addition to conventional movie theatres, other venues include the Jardín Principal (main square) of San Miguel de Allende and the classical open-air staircase of the University of Guanajuato. The event attracts some pretty big names; past attendees include Oliver Stone, Gaspar Noé, Tim Burton and Spike Lee. Best of all, as a state-sponsored non-profit cultural event, admission is absolutely free!

Cape Town's Table Mountain is one of the finalists in the New Seven Wonders of Nature, as well as a whl.travel destination

It is now time for the world to speak and choose the final seven. Optimistic estimates are that 1 billion votes will be cast starting now, throughout 2010 and into 2011, when the official list will be unveiled.

TO ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE TALLY, START HERE.

whl.travel Destinations in the Mix

whl.travel is delighted to note that, of the 28 finalists, eight are covered by the network:

• the Amazon – see Manaus: the Brazilian Port of Entry to the Amazon Rainforest)
• the Dead Sea – take a tour
• Iguazu Falls – see Finding Heaven in Foz do Iguassu
• Jeita Grotto – take a tour
• Komodo National Park – take a tour
• Maldives – learn more about it and then read about Whale Shark Encounters in the Maldives
• Puerto Princesa Underground River – take a tour
• Table Mountain – why not Abseil off Table Mountain

More Information

The nomination and voting process is being led by the same team that oversaw the New Seven Wonders of the World, during which 100 million votes were counted.