Singaporeans hold the world’s most powerful passport in their hands. The nation jumped to first place on the Passport Index, after Paraguay dropped visa requirements for Singapore travellers.
A multitude of travel-lovers here will rejoice, now that there is visa-free travel, or visas on arrival, to 159 countries.
The passports of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories were considered by global advisory firm Arton Capital, which devised the index.
Here’s a spectrum of desirable journeys – both far-flung and just hours from Singapore shores – published in The Straits Times.
Travel writer Lee Siew Hua highlights travel stories that reveal wonders from everywhere. Explore the world, from sensuously sunlit Provence to wildest Patagonia, from vivacious Tel Aviv to old-world Hoi An.
Photo: 123RF
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A dinosaur statue at Tasik Y park in Jalan Sejati, 83000 Batu Pahat on July 26.
A high-speed rail will run from Jurong East all the way to Kuala Lumpur in a decade. There is much to see and do at each stop.
Photo: ST File
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The Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Hotel has 68 villas, comprising 43 located over water and 25 along the beaches.
Discover kid-friendly Maldives with picnics on castaway islands, dolphin spotting and more.
Photo: Keong Hong Holdings
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Chefchaouen’s water comes from the surrounding mountains and tastes subtly sweet.
Blue beauty and Moorish allure abound in Morocco.
Photo: ST File
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A snorkeler swims among stingless jellyfish in Palau’s Jellyfish Lake.
Swim in a lake with jellyfish that have one amazing quirk: no sting.
Photo: 123rf
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Kaypalad, which means blessed in Tagalog, is a homestay on a far corner of Lubang island and a beguiling destination in itself.
Lubang Island, the jungle hideout of enigmatic Japanese war straggler Hiroo Onoda who refused to surrender for 29 years after World War II, is a jolt of pure adventure so near Singapore.
Photo: ST File
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Sunbathers at the Praia da Rainha, one of many beaches in the seaside town of Cascai.
The classic and vintage coexist beautifully with the young and vibrant in Portugal.
Photo: 123rf
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A camel ride in the Sealine desert.
Little Qatar is home to the world. Foreigners flock here to work, bringing colour to its capital Doha, even as the deserts and falconry heritage evoke the Qatar of old.
Photo: ST File
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Somaemuldo island is a one hour-long ferry ride from Tongyeong Port.
An insider guide to the coastal city of Tongyeong is full of island charm and secluded seascapes.
Photo: Korea National Park Service
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The Icehotel 365 buildings are made from “snice”, a combination of snow and ice – it has a translucent quality – from the nearby Torne river.
The Arctic Circle exudes cosiness, whether the traveller is snuggling in an ice hotel or supping with the indigenous Sami. And the northern lights dance in the sky, of course.
Photo: Asaf Kliger
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Castelgrande is a fortress located in Bellinzona in the southernmost Swiss canton of Ticino.
An insider guide to Ticino, an efficient Swiss region with a touch of Italian dolce vita.
Photo: ST File
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Hillside tea houses in Jiufen, Taiwan.
Home-style Taiwanese cooking, hidden hipster cafes and a seed cafe – spend a perfect weekend in leisurely Tainan.
Photo: 123rf
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Zanzibari boys splash near a traditional dhow.
Zanzibar is the Other Africa, a fusion island dipped in scintillating blues.
Photo: ST File
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Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district is the location of the breathtakingly beautiful Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace, which was home to sultans from 1453 to 1852.
Many worlds and eras coalesce in Turkey, a country of contrasts. Greek ruins and magnificent mosques await discovery, and also poignant World War I monuments and the Bosphorus strait that separates Europe and Asia.
Photo: ST File
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Stone cottages along the roadside in the village of Great Milton.
The Cotswolds countryside is an English fairy land. We can almost picture pixies hiding in the sweet gardens.
Photo: 123rf
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A salesgirl with her bamboo basket full of vegetables in the culinary fair at the Van Thanh tourist area, Ho Chi Minh City.
Savour coffee and street life in Hanoi, while seeking tranquil corners amid its riotous, bizarre and protean streets. Also eat lots of piquant cao lao noodles in old-world Hoi An.
Photo: 123rf
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A family stands atop a rock at Sam Phan Bok in Ubon Ratchathani.
Relish a perfect weekend in Ubon Ratchathani with its artisanal cafes, Thai pop and mini Grand Canyon.
Photo: ST File
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The majestic Iguazu Falls in Brazil.
The Iguazu Falls are sublime from any angle, while Rio is a pumping city.
Photo: Skyscanner
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Circus on a street in Montreal, home of the famous Cirque du Soleil.
A French-flavoured city that loves to party and play, Montreal sells fantasy to the world, notably the Cirque du Soleil.
Photo: The Straits Times
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Two pandas enjoy their bamboo at the panda base Ya’an Bifeng Gorge in Chengdu, China.
Carefree Chengdu is a place of pandas and poets, while Guizhou abounds in rainbows and myths.
Photo: The Straits Times
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Medellin, once the world’s cocaine capital, is now transformed with parks, libraries and hip bars. It won the Lee Kuan Yew World City prize this year.
Colombia is the comeback country, where a fragile peace has settled and travellers are exploring the land anew.
Photo: The Straits Times
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A tortoise is seen at the park in Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador on Sept 12, 2017.
There is an Edenic innocence in the Galapagos islands of Ecuador, where animals forget to fear.
Photo: AFP
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Distinctive houses in Porvoo, second oldest town in Finland.
Revel in cold adventures in Finland. Plunge into an icy chamber in Helsinki and stay on a husky farm in the wintry wilderness up north.
Photo: Visit Helsinki
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Fields of wild poppies are among the sights that greet visitors to Provence, a land of delicacy and ruggedness.
A walking gourmet journey in Provence reveals places of sun-lit sensuousness and hidden Michelin-starred restaurants. Also, enjoy the plush chateau life in Bordeaux, which has been making wine since Roman times.
Photo: The Straits Times
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Visitors celebrating Oktoberfest in the beer garden, wearing traditional costumes.
With relaxing beer gardens, friendly residents and mountains, Munich is like the planet’s biggest village.
Photo: 123RF
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Ancient sites in Greece include the Acropolis in Athens and the Palamidi Fortress at port town Nafplio.
Athens, with its gritty beauty, is a treasure trove for lovers of archaeology and good food.
Photo: The Straits Times
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People walk at a market place at the shopping Mongkok district in Hong Kong.
So many ways to spend a perfect weekend in Hong Kong: hike, eat, shop, gallery-hop and ride on the world’s longest outdoor escalator.
Photo: 123RF
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The Cliffs of Moher were featured in Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince. The Emerald Isle, shrouded in myths and filled with music, enchants in so many ways.
Photo: 123RF
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Tel Aviv sits on the Mediterranean coastline and boasts a dozen beaches, where Israelis love to relax.
An insider guide to vivacious Tel Aviv, on the sun-drenched coast, where time is best spent outdoors.
Photo: 123RF
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Limestone cliffs of Polignano a Mare, a seaside town 30km from Bari, Puglia’s capital.
Experience the sweet life in Puglia, where locals make burrata, and summer days are halcyon.
Photo: 123RF
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Mountains at Shiretoko National Park, Japan.
In snowshoes, step into an all-white world where Japanese hamlets and cedar forests lie under the deepest snow. Also explore the northernmost tip of Japan in Hokkaido.
Photo: 123RF
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Baiterek, a monument and observation tower, in Astana resembles a tree with a golden egg nestled at the top. On its right is the Emerald Towers complex, which pays homage to the indigenous prairie grass.
In Kazakhstan, nature and ultra-modernity sit side by side.
Photo: The Straits Times
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Night markets gently light up Luang Prabang’s nights.
Luang Prabang, with its royal past and fancy cocktails, retains its soul amid rapid changes.
Photo: 123RF
This article was first published on The Straits Times.
ALSO READ: QUICK GETAWAYS FOR THE WEEKEND THAT TICKLE EVERYONE’S TASTE BUDS
