#895 Mykonos, Greece

Perhaps most famous for its partying night life, Mykonos to me epitomizes the reason why Greece's flag is blue and white stripes. This charming little island had beautiful colors of blue and whites contrasting no matter where you looked -- whether it was the blue paints, the blue sky, the blue ocean or the sharp white houses and buildings or the boats. 

It glitters in summer and has the touristy vibe to match. Cruise ships are frequent, beaches are quite full, and the nightclubs, pumping. The restaurants and shops live up to their location, but it is still a charming place -- if ever I was to become a writer and live in isolation, I think Mykonos would be a pretty great location, but then, I thought that of most of Greece! 

It's main town of Hora is a cluster of narrow passages working their way up the hillside overlooking a busy bay and harbor. Little Venice to the south is perched right on the water underneath the iconic windmills

 

Source: Lonely Planet Greece 8th Edition

#931 Kyaiktyo (Golden Rock), Myanmar (Burma)

One of the most sacred pilgrimmage places in Burma is a place called Kyaiktyo, where a precariously perched rock which has been painted with gold-leaf and people travel across the country to spend time meditating there. An amazing journey in itself, the collective travel and sense of purpose that accompany it make it collegial and full of community. Likewise, while the majestic vision itself perched high above a valley is a sight to behold, the people you watch and the spectacle are equally unique.

The area is a marvel of magic and devotion, religious iconography, excessive commercial development, rosaries sold aside toy rifles, people meditating, sleeping, and touching the rock (affixing more gold-leaf). The walk up is several hours long, and in a wonder of contrasts, passes through villages, past stupas, statues, shops and souvenirs.

The gravity-defying rock iteslf, with a 7.3m high stupa on top, is one of Myanmar's most sacred sites, perched on the edge of Mt. Kyaiktiyo (pronounced chay ti tyo). Legend has it that the rock can sit thus because of Buddha's specially placed hair inside the stupa. King Tissa (11th century) was given the hair by a hermit who had secreted it in his own topknot. The king was instructed to find a boulder that resembled the hermit's head, which was found at the bottom of the ocean, and upon reaching the mountain top, the boat turned to stone (which can be seen nearby).

Source: Lonely Planet Myanmar (9th Edition)