What Is The Best City In The World?

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

The first time I went to NY it was interesting but by the end of the week I was a bit bored. Now I just hang out with friends, I can't think of anywhere I really love going or doing when I'm there (I'm open to suggestions).

When I first went to Tokyo I thought it was crazy and amazing. After a couple of other trips it became rather boring. Now I have got used to it and know what I like and where I like to go. I Now enjoy Tokyo for what it really is and the friends I have there, it's a city geared much more to being social than London is.

Plus it has a great rock and roll scene, fab record shops and all the clothes fit me.

 

[phildwyer]

Tokyo's amazing, but as a gaigin you can't really get into the culture.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Tokyo's amazing, but as a gaigin you can't really get into the culture.

I think that's bollocks, or at least it is these days. Have you not seen Tom Cruse in the last samurai?

I have no intention of getting into temples and wearing kimonos and shit, but I do the same things and go to (and avoid) exactly the same places as my Japanese friends.
When you get past the language in Tokyo (I'm not talking all of Japan, there is a big difference between NY and Texas) there are more differences between other English speaking cultures and Britain.
I don't think there is any mysterious culture to get into, maybe you can enlighten me, I may have misunderstood?

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

Copenhagen.

 

[phildwyer]

When you get past the language in Tokyo (I'm not talking all of Japan, there is a big difference between NY and Texas) there are more differences between other English speaking cultures and Britain.

Hang on, you're saying that apart from the language Japan is more like the UK than the US? That's madness. Or have I misunderstood?

 

[Meltingpot]

NYC is much like London, if you know people who live there, they can show you the real side to the city, the nice cafes off the beaten track, the family owned restaurants, the small art galleries.

NYC also has the best veggies restaurants i've been to.

But it's certainly not as great as most people make out. San Fran, Chicago and Boston are much nicer.

Yeah Boston is nice, I stopped off there once while changing planes.

 

[zoltan]

I do like copenhagen

I do like Oslo ( yes , I know )

I love Berlin

Salzburg is fantastic ( outside tourist seaosn)

I have a hard on for Cold places as you might guess

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Yeah and why is Paris even on the list? It's a parochial backwater which thinks of itself as the height of fashion. An unfriendly, claustrophobic, parkless, mazelike, stony, unenchanting, desert of stone.

You crazy, dude.

 

[Voley]

I'm a big fan of Amsterdam, too. Last time I was there - a month ago - I put quite a bit of thought into moving there permanently.

I liked Saigon/Ho Chin Minh City a lot when I was there but that was a few years back, now.

Bangkok's pretty polluted etc but it's got that exotic Eastern thing I like. Same goes for Kathmandu. Filthy but so different to what you're used to that you warm to it.

I don't spend a lot of time in cities, really. They tend to be places I stay in on the way somewhere quieter.

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

Reykjavik

 

[phildwyer]

I'm a big fan of Amsterdam, too. Last time I was there - a month ago - I put quite a bit of thought into moving there permanently.

I lived there one summer, squatting in Dapperbuurt. I can't imagine ever getting bored there. But I'm a bit surprised to see it in second place--it's not all that spectacular, surely?

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

You crazy, dude.

Nope. I lived there. I had more fun in Wuhan, which objectively speaking is a dirty great dive, but which is 10 times more friendly etc.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Nope. I lived there. I had more fun in Wuhan, which objectively speaking is a dirty great dive, but which is 10 times more friendly etc.

I haven't lived there, but have spent time there, one time for a month. I'd move there in an instant. Courses, horses.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I think Paris is a place to visit, rather than reside in. If you just go as a tourist and look at all the touristy buildings, it's pretty beautiful. But beneath the surface it's all seedy cramped apartments, people shouting, and parks where you can't sit on the grass, grotty local brasseries (give me a good local pub any day) and highly expensive nightclubs/bars.

 

[Steve316]

I voted New York. Out of the choices I have only been to London, New York, Amsterdam, and Barcelona.

I probably enjoyed Amsterdam least to be honest although it was ok. However, I truly did feel like I was somewhere a little bit special when in NYC.

Other notable cities I like would be - Singapore, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Madrid.

 

[ramjamclub]

Best city in the world for what?

 

[Jessiedog]

where is Hong Kong?

Take a look at my location.



Woof

 

[Jessiedog]

Yes, but its just the beaches and the mountains that make it beautiful. The buildings aren't very impressive, and there's a *lot* of highly visible poverty and crime. So it was a toss-up between Rio and BA for the South American representative, but BA just seems to have more of an urban appeal. Its cheaper at the moment too.

Let's see.

Tropical weather. Tick.

Mountains, beaches and sea (replete with dolphins). Tick.

Rainforest, monkeys, porcupine, wild boar and more. Tick

More impressive buildings than you could shake a stick at. Tick.

One of the lowest crime rates in the world, virtually no street crime. Tick.

Friendly, cosmopolitan, fantastic nightlife - open 24/7. Tick.

Low corruption, efficient civil service, easy to "get things done". Tick.

Cheap, efficient, reliable, extensive public transport network. Tick.

Taxis flagfall at a quid or less. BIG Tick.

International transport hub, superb airport. Tick.

Close to zero homelessness and zero "streetsleepers" (unless they so desire). Tick.

Exciting political environment. Roaring economy. Perfectly geographically poised. Tick. Tick Tick.

"Can do" attitudes, hardworking, pragmatic, tolerant. Tick.

Currency pegged to the US$ (makes everything cheap for now). Tick.




Jeez, now let me see.


It could only be The Pearl of the Orient.

A pimple on da bottom of China, in the heart of Asia.

What a city!



Woof

 

[Errol's son]

Granada

Hoping to get to South America in a couple of years or, so for longterm stays. Argentina and Chile are top of my list. I expect I'll love Santiago.

I actually didn't like Santiago much although there are worse places most certainly. Chile is great though once you get out of Santiago. It may have been partly to do with the fact that it was winter when I was in Santiago and freezing cold. I really didn't like the food in Chile much. Eating in cheap places was never enjoyable where as in most other South American countries cheap roadside eateries are fine. The coffee in Chile was appalling too although that may have changed.

But then I don't generally like large South American cities. Rio and Salvador in Brazil are fun as is Buenos Aires in Argentina. I prefer Lima to Santiago which many find surprising.

 

[lang rabbie]

Let's see.

Tropical weather. Tick.

Hmmm. On how many days last year could you actually see across the Bay from Kowloon to HK island or vice versa?

From today's South China Morning Post: Guangdong air worsens despite cleanup efforts

I suppose the nineteenth century levels of "peasouper" smog coming out of the booming industries of the Pear River Delta over in Guangdong might appeal to an anarcho-capitalist.

 

[Voley]

I know it's not a 'city' in the same way that London or NYC is - it barely qualifies as a town compared to them - but this is my favourite city in the world, nonetheless:

Leh, Ladakh.

Friendliest people I've ever met, incredible Himalayan scenery, some of the world's best trekking, fascinating Tibetan Buddhist culture. A side trip to Nubra over the world's highest road nearby.

And one of the world's best road trips to get there.

And then you go to Kashmir afterwards. Awesome place. Unbeatable for me.

 

[clandestino]

I think if more people had been to BA, it'd have more votes. Which is self-evident, but...you know what I mean. I thought it would be nice before I went, but it's an amazing city. I'd go back in a second.

Another vote for Mumbai from me too. Plus Melbourne.

 

[Voley]

Can't stand Bombay/Mumbai myself.

Way too hassley.

 

[phildwyer]

I think if more people had been to BA, it'd have more votes. Which is self-evident, but...you know what I mean.

Yes, I do. I had no idea it was so... European I suppose. And really cheap at the moment too--you can get a steak dinner with a bottle of wine for a fiver.

 

[maximilian ping]

I've been to hardly any of them, but despite loving London, I'll go for Barcelona cos it's prettier and the people are prettier and the weather's better and it has a beach and cheaper food and booze

wot he said

also, anyone been to Munich? it got best city in Monocle mag survey

 

[Voley]

But I'm a bit surprised to see it in second place--it's not all that spectacular, surely?

I'm more surprised to see London in first.

It'd be right at the bottom of my list.

 

[phildwyer]

I'm more surprised to see London in first.

It'd be right at the bottom of my list.

London's fine, but it wouldn't make my top ten. I reckon people are voting for it cos they live there.

 

[Sweaty Betty]

Aint been to any on the poll list....so Kardiff it is!!!!!!

 

[phildwyer]

Aint been to any on the poll list....so Kardiff it is!!!!!!

What, you've never been to London?

 

[CyberRose]

Having only been to London, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Paris it'd have to be a flip between Paris and Barcelona (as I hated Amsterdam and have only been to London properly once when I was about 8 to visit, other than watching football matches and that doesn't really count)

Think I'll have to go for Barcelona seeing as Sheffield isn't an option