Do you prefer to gaze at the sun setting over the ocean on a tropical island or choose to see the setting sun over a hazy, polluted city? On the same lines, would you rather sail through a busy water canal or choose the panoramic Caribbean Sea? The answer, dear Watson, is quite elementary: What appeals to the eyes and the senses is what takes the prize, right! Here’s a rundown on some of the world’s most scenic viewpoints.
Corcovado Hilltop, Rio de Janiero, Brazil
Let’s start our joyride with sunny and steamy Rio de Janiero, capital city of Brazil. Rio is already known for its beaches and its carnival, but what completely takes your breath away is the tall statue of Christ the Redeemer perched on top of a hill. It is Brazil’s world famous, iconic wonder. The Statue of Christ, standing 30 m (100 ft) high, covered in a mosaic of soapstone, is visible from miles around. The Corcovado Mountains offer an amazing viewpoint of the city of Rio and surrounding areas, with its summit just shy of 2,300 feet. But how do you get there? The best way is by mountain rail. The Corcovado Railway was, incidentally, also the train that carried the various parts of Christ’s statue before they were mounted together on the hill-top. You could say, it’s the closest you get to Jesus, on earth.
Cliffs of Dover, Strait of Dover, UK
Ordinarily, you wouldn’t imagine a pile of dead, sea creatures to be much of a sight, especially not one qualified as a premier world view. But give it over a dozen million years, and you’ll be surprised at the results. Case in point: The white cliffs of Dover. England’s great landmark, the cliffs are often the last thing seen of the UK as one leaves the country, as well as the first sight one sees on arrival. On a clear day, gazing across the English Channel, they’re even visible from France. The prime time to view them are weekdays in late spring or early autumn, and The Vantage Point is through the Strait of Dover, England.
Times Square, New York City, US
If you want New York in a nutshell, you have to visit the place frequented by Dick Clark and the Naked Cowboy (although an eyeful of the latter would wipe this spot off our list). The place could only be Times Square. Twenty years ago, you had to be either brave or clueless to wander here after dark. Decent folks avoided the area even during daylight. Again, it’s New York in a nutshell. Today, it has become commercialised and even, somewhat sanitised. Pear-shaped, mid-western tourists can waddle around and gawk in relative safety between eating and shopping in the endless chain establishments, much to the dismay of gritty natives who miss “the good old days”. Located in Manhattan, New York, at the junction between Broadway and Seventh Avenue, Times Square turns out in its best clothes on New Year’s Eve.
Mount Everest, Kalla Pattar, Nepal
The simple reason of “because it’s there” is probably the first and last easy step toward pursuing a view of the world’s tallest mountain. But rather than spend tens of thousands of dollars and risk death in climbing Everest, a more reasonable approach is to view it from Kalla Pattar, Nepal. In fact, this option has become popular with many non-climbers. Due to its sheer size, it’s arguably best viewed from a distance, anyway. Even then, it’s no less awe-inspiring. Plus, this way, you stand a much better chance of avoiding frostbite and being able to return home with your fingers and toes, intact! The prime time is May or October.
Red Square, Moscow, Russia
This is a place that gives you the creeps just standing here, especially if you’re one of those familiar with its role during the Cold War. This is the place we were taught to fear as children; why Bert the Turtle wanted us to “Duck” and “Cover”. Though it’s nothing to fear today, and Muscovites can be really hospitable, the view of Red Square can still be as intimidating as it is impressive. The embalmed remains of V I Lenin, the Soviet leader, are displayed in his mausoleum, located here. Through the centuries, the square has hosted government ceremonies, military parades, and more recently, Paul McCartney! The prime season is spring through autumn, but choose daytime because it gets dark early.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA
There’s something about the austere American desert that can clear your mind in an instant, restoring peace. The Grand Canyon is one of the most extreme examples, with the north and south rims traditionally seeing the most visitors. If you really want an amazing view though, try the Grand Canyon Skywalk, which opened in early 2007. Over at the west end of the canyon, the Hualapai Native American tribe will take you on a 14-mile ride and you'll have to cough up the $75 or more for a tour package. There’s one other way to get this kind of Grand Canyon view, and it’s substantially more dangerous: Remember, Tom Cruise hanging from a cliff in MI-2?
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
We could feature a Top 10 views in Paris alone and still have to eliminate some breathtaking sights. An excellent way to view the city located on river Seine is by dining at the prestigious Jules Verne Restaurant located 400 ft (125 meters) high on the second floor, which has its own private elevator access through the south pillar. Located in the heart of this intricate iron structure, full of angles and perspectives, the Jules Verne restaurant offers excellent views of Paris. However, to dine at this prestigious restaurant, where you might find seated on the table next to you Tom and Kate Cruise, prior reservations are a must. In fact, the crew of Om Shanti Om celebrated their grand premiere across the Channel, by dining here.
Lanikai Beach, Hawaii, USA
Hawaii can either epitomise the cliché of tourism hell or give you all the elbow room you could ever want. It’s largely a matter of where and when you go. And in the case of the famous Lanikai Beach, timing really is everything. Widely regarded as one of the best beaches, the bikini views are nice, but the sunrise views are even better. Yes, it’s a little ironic to hit the westernmost state of the United States for the best sunrise, but it is what it really is. Visit during the right season and Hawaii can truly spell paradise.
Guilin, China
Though less visited than other Chinese cities, you owe it to yourself to visit the area around the northeastern city of Guilian. The views here have been revered for centuries and will instill in you an entirely different take on “the old”. Views of the Lipu and Yaoshan mountains from Lijiang River simply cannot be described in words, especially from late summer through autumn.
Acropolis, Athens, Greece
The prime-city view hundreds of feet up from Athens’ Acropolis is something to behold on its own, but it’s nothing compared to the UNESCO World Heritage Site you see when you turn around. The ancient remains date back centuries before Christ. Here, the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, and other remains are at once incredibly humbling, yet intriguing. Much of the site's history is known, much is presumed, and portions of Greek mythology lie somewhere in between. Not only has the Acropolis’ construction stood the test of time, so have the views.
