Top 10 countries to visit in 2015

TOP RELAND COUNTRIES TO IN | THEPHLP NES ST WEW VISIT 1 SNGAPORE 2 NAMEA G EPEUC OF CONCO 2015 Selected by lonely plonet brought to you by TourVia Me SINGAPORE As one of the world's most multicultural cities, Singapore is always celebrating something. But Singapore has an extra special reason to put on her party hat in 2015, for it's her Golden Jubilee. Singapore is firmly in the grip of the т KPOP PASSPORT If you're not up with reality show K-POP Star Hunt, you'd be best not to admit it. Everyone who was present in Singapore on the date of independence was offered Singapore citizenship. Singapore boasts some of the world's strictest laws with 'crimes', such as chewing gum and pornography (which includes answering the door in your underwear), carrying harsh penalties. Singapore was declared the world's most replacing Tokyo. The best things, after all, Usually come at a price. The Merlion (Malay: Singa-Laut) is a traditional creature in western heraldry that depicts a monster with a lion head and a body of a fish. In Singapore, it has become a marketing icon used as a mascot and informal national personification of Singapore. NAMIBIA The golden sands of Namibia turn silver this year as the is celebrating its 25th anniversary of independence, And with memories of the country's birth still fresh in many minds, expect the celebrations to be widespread and long lasting. Although its remote shores are adorned with half-buried, bleached whale skeletons, the Skeleton Coast actually received its name due to its reputation for sinking ships, and the deadly environment that awaited the survivors. Beetles, lizards, spiders and various plants in the depths of the Namib Desert collect their DRINKING WATER by condensing fog their extremities. on With evocative landscapes, empty roads and world-class wildlife, Namibia is simply the best place in Africa to get behind the wheel and explore. And with the western section of Etosha National Park recently opening up to self-drivers, there is more to see in 2015 than ever. Climb to the top of a sky-scraping red sand dune at Sossusvlei in the early hours and witness the day's first light seemingly set the desert landscape on fire. 3. LITHUANIA As of January 1st, Lithuania will become the newest member of the eurozone. From a visitor perspective, this means travelling in Lithuania is going to get a whole lot easier. Lots of fanfare and public events will mark the occasion of the last Baltic nation joining the European common currency. MINDAU GAS who united Lithuania in the 13th century, was the country's first and only monarch. Basketball is the country's national sport, and the team is ranked third worldwide. 'Eurobasket is consistently the most popular word entered into Lithuanian online search engines and ten former Lithuanian players have made it to the American NBA. The above average height of Lithuanians (4cm taller than the European norm), may well have played a part. Lithuania was the first Soviet Republic to declare independence, leading the charge Vilnius in 1990. proudly displays the world's only statue to Frank Zappa. First mentioned in 1337 by the Teutonic Knights, one of Lithuania's former medieval capitals- Trakai is crowned by a magnificent Gothic castle, surrounded by beautiful landscapes, wildlife reserves and forests. NICARAGUA It has garnered a name for itself as one of the world's top emerging luxury ecotourism destinations, and foodies have been raving about the new crop of stylish restaurants that have morphed Managua, a former no-go zone, into a fledgling culinary capital. There's no better time to enjoy Nicaragua in its natural (and cheap) splendour than at this very moment. The name Nieneagun comes from a combination The national sport, which is of two words. "nicarao" and "agua". The Nicarao were the even more popular than football is Indian tribe who occupied the shores of Lake Nicaragua when the Spaniards arrived in the 1500's. "Agua" is the Spanish word for water. Baseball Its status as the birthplace of volcano boarding is the first hint that Nicaragua is an adventurist's dream. It is a home to the worlds only "Dual Volcano". The Volcano is in a small mountain range and is fed underground by two separate magnma flows. It is the only volcano in the world that can erupt with two diverse magma channels underneath it. IRELAND Ireland is small, but it packs a big punch. The Irish know which side their tourist bread is buttered and it's all about scenery, tradition and the warm welcome. Ireland is stunningly scenic, its traditions firmly intact and the cosmopolitan, contermporary Irish are just as friendly and welcoming as their forebears were known to be. This year is the year of the Wild Atlantic Way, a 2500km scenic splendours drive that snakes its way round nook and crook of the westem seaboard from Donegal to Cork. Many Irish family names start with "Mac" or "O'.", which means respectively "son of." and "grandson of." in Gaelic. EUROOISION Ireland won the SONG CONTEST 7 times - more than any other country. The stunning Ciffs of Moher rise 214 metres over the Atlantic Ocean and range for over 8 kilometres along the Clare coastline in the west of Ireland. REPUBLIC OF CONGO Few words conjure up such images of exotica: sweltering jungles populated by chest-thumping gorillas, paddle-wheel steamers sailing down mud-brown rivers a mile wide, pygmies dancing in honour of forest spirits, masses of elephants and hooting, swinging troops of chimpanzees. Being led by a barefoot BaAka (pygmy) guide through a Congolese svwamp for an up-close and-personal encounter with a rough-and-tumble family of western lowland gorillas is both humbling and inspiring experience. The Congo River, also known as the Zaire or Chambeshi is the world's deepest river with measured depths of over 220 m. Overall length is 4700 km. which makes it the ninth longest river in the world. SERBIA SPleang in Vrnjacka Banja, rafting the Drina River- all of away from pricey, played-out grounds in 'the Birthplace of modern tennis legends, small and for now, astonishingly inexpensive country is one of Europe's best-kept secrets. Exit Festival, floating nightclubs on Dunav, killer skiing in Kopaonik, them are luring other Europe'. %D Fruška Gora is home to the highest concentration of the Orthodox cloisters, 16 of them all tucked up tight in a 50km-long stretch of sylvan hills and ancient vineyards. Loudest place on the street kafana, somewhat akin to a pub or taverna, but with more shouting and smoke. You'll see Serbs engaging in their national pastime (arguing), mayhap a smashed bottle or two and if you're lucky, be serenaded by a ramshackle trubači (trumpet) band who will mistake your eardrum for a microphone. Mokra Gora is a sleepy, sheepy hamlet in Serbia's west, but there's more to do here than chew your cud: ride the Sargan 8 steam train through precarious, preternatural mountain passes; explore Drvengrad, the whimsical village-within-a-village built by director Emir Kusturica. Chew your way through this year's Roštilijada, a barbecue festival in Leskovac. This year they will attempt to make world's biggest pljeskavica aka Serblan hamburger. Previous entry weighed in at 51kg. Đavolja Varoš (Devil's Town) is a bizarre cluster of 202 natural stone pyramids looming eerily over bright red, highly acidic mineral streams. The towers teeter between 2m and 15m in height are topped vwith creepy volcanic 'heads'. THE PHILIPPINES Officially, 2015 is Visit Philippines Year, and the government is laying on all sorts of special events to raise the profile of the archipelago. Expect street parades, food festivals, sports tournaments and live music shows. 1.39 billion SMS messages are sent every day in the Philippines. The modern yoyo was invented by a Filipino. The word yoyo' means 'come back in Tagalog. Jeepneys are public tranportation based on US Army jeeps left behind after WWII. These stretched wonders are part bus and part art installation, adorned with extravagant chrome trim, custom upholstery, hundreds of decals and dozens of superfluous lights. One craze that never goes out of fashion in the Philippines is karaoke. Alone or in company, Pinoys love to sing. and no social gathering or business meeting would be complete without a swift rendition of the latest hits on the karaoke machine. With more than 7100 islands, the Philippines has one of the world's most beautiful coastlines, fringed by dive-tastic coral reefs, sprinkled with sunbathe-ready white sand, backed by swaying palm trees and dotted with simple resorts of nipa-palm thatched huts. A ST. LUCIA This ravishing island of emerald mountains and golden beaches is filled with sightseeing opps. And with primo diving and snorkelling, hikeable rainforests, and even a drive-in volcano it's also got all the right stuff for the off-the-beaten-path adventurer. St Lucia has the highest 'population to Nobel laureate' ratio of any with country, winners: Arthur Lewis two in economics and Derek Walcott in literature. It is illegal to wear camouflage clothing on St Lucia. The national bird, the St Lucia parrot, only exists on the island. Control of the country went back and forth between the British and the French 14 times. Take in the sights, sounds and smells of the tropico - prehistoric looking ferns, buzzing insects, voluptuous jungie flower in the heart of the St Lucia rainforest. 19. MOROCCO Developments such as budget flights are bringing Morocco's surf beaches, mountain valleys and palm groves closer to Europe. Maghrebi mystique, stirring landscapes and Berber culture can now be explored in comfort, style and community run tours and homestays. In Moroccan culture, traditionally the liver and not the heart, is considered to be the symbol of love "Al Mamlakah al Magribiyah" is Morocco's full formal Arabic name. It means "the extreme west" and attests to Morocco's place as the westernmost country in the Arab world. The University of Al-Karouine in Fez is the oldestin the wo and was established in 859 AD. Go in search of white Saharan sands. In Merzouga or M'Hamid, hire a turban-wrapped guide and head between the dunes by camel or 4WD to a nomad camp for a night under the stars. ught to you by TourVia Me fnd us on O TourVia.Me O TourViaMe OTourviaMe O/+TourVialMe O TourVialMe Resourcae: hrtp:www.cactuwarictwide.com/blog2011/c14/10-facts-about-nicaragua http:intervoting-atca-tactscom/Arica-LandlormsCongo-ver-factshtm httphikingioy101.com/10-ertertaining-imeresting-facs-sbout-nicaragu http://www.lonelyplanet.com/test-in-travelooutriee http://www.eurovicion.twpogehistorytacts-figuros http://www.10-tacts-about.com/MoroocoloB54 hpswew.ticr.com/photoshenrykkchoung htpswww.fic.com/photoarrenchishoar apawww.ficker.com/photca/puappemko palwew.ticr.comiphotoamsmaratal hrtpe://www.ftickr.com/photos/yecwatzup http:www.fickr.com/photas'erwin_oo httpswww.fickr com/photos/ashokbo htmp:/www.southemdestinations.com httpswww.ectoropenstock.com http:mydesktopwalpapersinfo Mlpwww.dletincijeuarjira hpal-roe-dowoed.com hetpwww.ectey.com/ www.tatipon.com http:www.freepk com http:/www.nara gov