Worlds top 5 cities
Last years, I've traveled way too much. One of the advantages is that you see a lot of cities. Just last week, I was visiting Beijing and was thinking, ah this is actually quite a nice city (I used to live there). So, I decided on making a "Bas' world top 5 cities". Of course, I've been only to a few places and therefore cannot say a lot about a lot of cities, and some of the top 5 cities, I've only been a couple of days so it's just based on a first impression.
So there it goes:
1. Singapore
Let's build a city combining North Asia, South Asia and Europe on a tropical island. What do we get? Well, I think that's what Singapore is. Always nice and warm (I hate cold) and a huge mix of cultures. Plus an international city with lots of choice.
2. Tokyo
Tokyo is really huge. There is so much things around and so much people. Great food again. Nowadays getting more international, though it's still hard to get along when not speaking Japanese. Still, a nice place!
3. Amsterdam
Eh, well, I lived in Amsterdam quite a while. I like it, it's again, a huge mix of cultures and so free. The Dutch Amsterdam accent is great and direct. I think Amsterdam is probably the best European city.
4. San Francisco
Someone once called SF "the amsterdam in US". I liked that description. I always feel that SF has a very relaxed atmosphere. The hills always made me feel funny. (probably because I haven't lived there, so they always come as a surprise).
5. Beijing
The third city in Asia. Beijing is also a large city, though I think it feels smaller than Tokyo. The Beijing Chinese accent is exactly what the Amsterdam accent is in Holland. I like listening to it and going hrr hrr mrr. The food in Beijing is great, better than any other place in China. Lots of things to do and slowly getting more international. The weather sucks though and the pollution is too bad. Thus only #5 :)
Oki, that's it, just based on my personal opinion. I left out lots of great cities. I guess in the top 10 would be still: New York, Paris, London, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Anyways. Now I'm in Nagoya and visiting the Toyota factory tomorrow. Will certainly blog about that later.
