[fellowjoe]

And in what way does it intrigue you?

I did not include the UK directly on the list as most members here are, well... British.

[ckingalt]

Israel. I am fascinated by the history of early civilization and the whole region is a wealth of historical intrigue. I know many here resent the politics but in terms of nationality, I consider the jewish people to be extraordinary.

[Tahooper]

(Original post by ckingalt)
Israel. I am fascinated by the history of early civilization and the whole region is a wealth of historical intrigue. I know many here resent the politics but in terms of nationality, I consider the jewish people to be extraordinary.

What exactly makes them better than everybody else?

[fellowjoe]

Japan, that is.


They just never fail to amaze me how civilised and socially organised they can be despite the constant setbacks and stressful lifestyle they face.

Also, how could there be such a wide disparity between the older and much violent generation in WW2 and the more civilised, current one?

[ckingalt]

(Original post by Tahooper)
What exactly makes them better than everybody else?

Trying to argue that one race, culture, or nationality is better than any other is a losing argument and for good reason. I simply empathize with their struggle and relate to their culture. I admire the many great contributions and minds which seem to disproportionately originate from their ranks. Being better than anyone else has nothing to do with it.

[Bonged.]

(Original post by Tahooper)
What exactly makes them better than everybody else?

Dunno about better than everybody else, but they are smarter than everybody else.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashkenazi_intelligence

[cgraham15]

Israel, Japan, USA, and Italy all seem to be awesome

[Herr]

The people of Bhutan.

How a country can be so isolated and insular still survives as the place with one of the happiest people on the planet.

[cool pilot dude]

(Original post by fellowjoe)
And in what way does it intrigue you?

I did not include the UK directly on the list as most members here are, well... British.

Tahiti- Beautiful French colony all alone in the pacfic with such Beautiful people who speak very cute French

Lebanon- Former French colony and called the Paris of the middle east.

St Marteens- Beautful Dutch colony in the Carribean and has a cool beach by an airport where planes literaly fly on top of your head and you can get blown by the engines!

St Lucia- Beautiful Former French and British colony and very relaxing

Turkey- History, the fact that its both European and Asian, architetcture etc...

India- former British colony as well as a colony of other countries Culture and architecture and food!

North-west Pakistan and Afghanistan- Forner British colony and colony of other countries, mixture of different ethnicities and history e.g. The Kalash people who live in the mountains are Descendants of Alexander the Great and his army and still worship ancient Greek gods, make their own wine etc... theres only 4-6 thousand left as they were forced into conversion like the pathans and burosho who are also descendants of Alexander the Great. However, the Pathans have also Jewish, Rusiian and British ancestry. There are also old destroyed synagogues in Afghanistan and in Karachi there is a Jewish graveyard.

Greece and Macedonia- History

Isreal- history and beauty

Theres so many more countries I wanna go like: Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kiwi land (Sorry if thsi sounds offensive New zealnd), Brazil, Argentina, Malta etc....

[fellowjoe]

(Original post by Herr)
The people of Bhutan.

How a country can be so isolated and insular still survives as the place with one of the happiest people on the planet.

I think there is a correlation between being isolated (at least geographically and culturally) and happiness.

Such countries as Australia, NZ and the Scandinavian countries are less prone to the problems and complexities of globalisation. Unsurprisingly, they are ranked as among the happiest nations on earth.

[sinfonietta]

From the list: Japan, South Korea and China. In that order.

Not on the list: Serbia, Lithuania and Austria.

[SilverArch]

From the list - Japan, Australia and China

But I voted others, because I am most interested by the South East Asian countries - Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos etc. I would love to travel there more than anywhere else

[Mazzini]

Greece. Love its ancient history and culture

[raaachek]

How can anyone not vote North Korea??

[Bubblyminty]

China and Japan. They are both so different from the west and I find their culture (especially japanese fashion) very interesting.

[Carecup]

Morbid fascination: North Korea
As a nation that I respect and that I think we can learn from: Japan.

[Id and Ego seek]

Fiji

[Psyk]

(Original post by Herr)
The people of Bhutan.

How a country can be so isolated and insular still survives as the place with one of the happiest people on the planet.

Because they're blissfully ignorant of how much better their lives could be if they had iPads

[Torpedo Fish]

Other: Vietnam.

[Chindits]

How on earth is India not on the list? remarkable country considering.

Out of that list I would go Israel. Japan scares me a little.

Israel for the fact that they're a very young country and have turned swamp land into a technologically advanced state - without natural resources and despite being surrounded by despotic regimes who have been at war with the state for every single day of its existence.