Jaunt Magazine GDES-302-TheFinalSubmission_Mok_Ruby_F2018 | Page 9

Jaunt Jaunt VISIT IN 2019 7. Dakar, Senegal One of Africa’s most dynamic cities, Dakar offers a dizzying mix of sun-kissed beaches, colourful markets and mbalax-fuelled nightclubs where snappily attired revellers emerge into the early- morning light as the first call to prayer drifts over the tropical landscape. Despite its myriad attractions, Senegal’s seaside capital has long been overlooked by many travellers. 8. Seattle, USA Smart, progressive and loaded with creative energy, Seattle is rarely out of the global spotlight. The world’s largest online retailer has transformed a vast tract of the Denny Triangle neighbourhood, creating a dense business district of sleek office towers anchored by a glass where workers share office space with 40,000 plants. 9. Zadar, Croatia Zadar has risen from the ashes of its war-ridden past and blossomed into a spirited cosmopolitan city. Wander through the Old Town’s warren of bright marble streets to discover cool bars and laidback cafes. The true phoenix of Zadar’s transformation is its waterfront promenade, where scores of locals gather to listen to the magical chimes of the Sea Organ or bask in the mesmeric illuminations of the Sun Salutation. 10. Meknès, Morocco Moulay Ismail plundered Marrakeshi palaces and Roman ruins at nearby Volubilis for stone and marble to build thick-set fortifications that still encase the city, giant subterranean food stores and a magnificent bab (gate) to outshine even the Blue Gate in Fez. Why visit these cities? The top 10 list offers a mix of well-known and lesser-known locations: popular cities already getting attention for their attractions and events; towns off the beaten path that are worth a second look; and cities that are have suffered from natural disasters and deserve our focused attention. With its modern design, 15 Michelin-starred restaurants and extremely bike-friendly culture, it’s no surprise that Denmark’s capital has topped Lonely Planet’s top 10 cities to visit in 2019 list. Denmark’s capital is also the “capital of cool,” according to the travel company, and offers a booming street-food scene, an amusement park- garden hybrid. Copenhagen’s hiking trails also make the destination perfect for nature lovers.Copenhagen’s street food scene is booming on Refshaleøen, a former industrial area with a food and craft market, Reffen. Tivoli Gardens theme park (one of the world’s oldest) is offering a February winter season, says Tom Hall, Lonely Planet’s editorial director. There’s a new artificial ski slope and hiking area on top of a waste management center, and the Danish Architectural Centre has moved into BLOX, Rem Koolhaas’ cultural center. Noma, the restaurant that officially put New Nordic cuisine on the worldwide stage, triumphantly returned home to Copenhagen in 2018. 9 9