Aw, shucks...

I've been asked about my comment yesterday - Sydney has been voted world's best City for the seventh time in the past nine years. This poll is conducted by American magazine, Travel + Leisure,

This year's results are based on 425,105 evaluations, making these our most comprehensive (and competitive) awards to date. Our rankings identify the cream of the crop around the globe: the top hotels, cities, islands, cruise lines, outfitters, airlines, and car-rental agencies.

In our category, Best City, the rated characteristics were, sights, culture/arts, restaurants/food, people, shopping, value. The full survey methodology can be found here... The press release found here...

WORLD'S BEST CITY - SYDNEY
WORLD'S BEST ISLAND - BALI
WORLD'S BEST HOTEL - SINGITA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE, SABI SANDS, SOUTH AFRICA
WORLD'S BEST SMALL HOTEL - SINGITA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE, SABI SANDS, SOUTH AFRICA
WORLD'S BEST HOTEL FOR $250 OR LESS - RITZ-CARLTON BALI RESORT & SPA
WORLD'S BEST LARGE-SHIP CRUISE LINE - CRYSTAL CRUISES
WORLD'S BEST SMALL-SHIP CRUISE LINE - SILVERSEA CRUISES
WORLD'S BEST DOMESTIC AIRLINE - MIDWEST AIRLINES
WORLD'S BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE - SINGAPORE AIRLINES
WORLD'S BEST TOUR OPERATOR/SAFARI OUTFITTER - MICATO SAFARIS
WORLD'S BEST CAR-RENTAL AGENCY - HERTZ

Best City /Score 2004 / 2003
1 Sydney 87.58 / 87.62
2 Rome 87.00 / 86.64
3 Florence, Italy 86.77 / 87.14
4 Bangkok 85.68 / 87.11
5 Cape Town 85.30 / 84.88
6 New York 84.67 / 84.67
7 Oaxaca, Mexico 84.15 / N/A
8 Istanbul 83.94 83.18
9 San Francisco 83.64 83.86
10 Venice 83.49 83.

The only other winner/s in Australia, was in Queensland, for Best Island/s - Lizard Island in particular and the Great Barrier Reef islands, in general. Years ago, whilst hanging around Alaska, I met a well travelled, travel-agent from Los Angeles. She insisted the two best Harbours in the world were Hong Kong by night and Sydney by day. Can't argue with that.

Additionally, tourists in my cab argue the two best City beaches in the world are Rio in Brazil, and Bondi in Sydney, around 7kms from the CBD. However given Rio's crime problem, Bondi takes the cigar. Excuse the pun. Further to that, they also insist I'm the world's best cabbie !

And if I can just find an IT/telephony/weblog solutions specialist, in Sydney, I'll be the world's only on-line publishing cabbie. If not, my very next fare will be to The Gap in Watsons Bay, the world's best suicide location....aaaarrrrgggghhhh.... Help ! Somebody...?

NOTE : As usual, click on images to enlarge