Go for the Gold

edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

The value of this precious metal hit an all-time high this week reaching a whopping $1183 an ounce.

Companies with names like WeBuyAnyGold (dot com) are desperate to melt down your jewelry, prospectors are flocking to rivers and sales of gold pans have soared.

Ten solid nuggets of the most golden places in the World

Wat Traimit, Temple of the Golden Buddha, Bangkok, Thailand
It’s official, Buddhism is all about the bling. The Buddha in Wat Traimit claims the prestigious title of not just being the world’s biggest solid gold Buddha – but the world’s biggest solid gold statue. Weighing nearly five and a half tons and sitting at three meters in height, the statue spent two centuries encased in plaster to disguise its value when the Burmese invaded. Now visitors enjoy it in all its golden glory in one of the most visited temples in Bangkok.

Kinkaku-ji, Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kyoto, Japan
All that glitters is not gold. But Kinkaku-ji most certainly is. As one of Japan’s most prized temples, you’d think they might take better care of it; not so, Kinkaku-ji has burned down twice (once by a mad monk) and hence the present structure is actually fairly recent, only dating from 1955. However, this three story Japanese temple that is covered in glittering gold leaf is one of Japan’s 'must sees'.

The Golden Temple, Amritsar, India
Deemed a place of “sublime peacefulness and stupendous beauty”, The Golden Temple certainly is a sight for gold struck visitors. Surrounded by large manmade lake fed by a sacred spring, the temple radiates its golden hue to pilgrims and tourists alike and is the holiest shrine of the Sikh faith, and one of India’s most impressive destinations.

The Crown Jewels, London, UK
The original "Queen of Bling", you can see Her Majesty’s stash of crowns, jewels, rings, swords and solid gold trinkets in the Tower of London. Protected by armed guards (having been nearly stolen in 1671 by Irishman Colonel Blood) visitors can marvel at this priceless collection and symbol of the British monarchy, many pieces of which are still worn today.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, USA
It’s not a gate--and it’s not gold--but it is one of the most iconic structures in the US. Spanning the Golden Gate – a strait that connects San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean – it’s the longest suspension bridge in the world at a whopping 2737m in length. It also holds the less prestigious title of the “most popular place to commit suicide in the US”.

The Goldmines, Johannesburg, South Africa
For over 100 years, South Africa claimed the title of largest gold producer in the world (although China has recently stolen the title). Even though they are now only in second place, the country is still well known for its gold mining. Take a tour to the Kromdraai Gold Mine just outside of Johannesburg and go deep into the heart of the mountain to learn about the traditional methods of mining gold ore.

Tutankhamun Exhibition, Dorchester, UK
All royalty love gold, but those Egyptian pharaohs loved it even more than King Midas. In fact, they loved it so much, that they even made their coffins out of it so they could be encased in gold forever. Or at least until some pesky archaeologist dug them up. Curse them! The Tutankhamun Exhibition, which is currently in Dorchester, England, tours the world displaying these truly splendid Egyptian golden treasures (many of which are actually perfect replicas) which include the Gold Mask of Tutankhamun, the Head of The Goddess Hathor and various golden figures of the young king and his pals.

World Gold Panning Competition, Zlaté Hory, Czech Republic
Gold panning competitions take place all over the world from Scotland to Sweden, but it’s the small town of Zlaté Hory in the Czech Republic that 24 carat gold panners will be descending on next year to compete for the title of “World Champion Gold Panner 2010”. Contestants are given a load of sand laced with gold flakes and nuggets and race to find the most precious metal first.

Gold Coast, Australia
Don’t be fooled by the name. Gold Coast is not a region but a city in the southeast of Queensland. Known for its subtropical climate, excellent surf spots, beaches and waterways, Gold Coast is a big tourist destination, attracting some 10 million visitors each year (and keeping the Gold Coast’s gold reserves nicely topped up). It’s also a major film production center, apparently ranking as the 3rd largest movie maker in Australia.

Gold Digging, Singapore
We ain’t saying she’s a gold digger...but if you’re looking for a ‘Sugar Daddy’ (or ‘Cougar’, respectively) then Singapore is the place to find one. According to the Boston Consultant Group’s Weather Report, this tiny city state has the highest concentration of millionaires in the world with a sparkling 8.5% of the country’s households possessing more than $1million. New York, London and Tokyo are the next best places to dig.

Join the Gold Rush with these suggestions from Skyscanner

www.skyscanner.com

Although she does not consider herself a gold digger, Madelyn Miller has visited all of these places except South Africa. It is the top of her "must see" list. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com