Antofagasta is a port city in northern Chile and popular with tourists. Chile is currently one of South America’s most stable and prosperous nations and is a surprising easy place to travel around.

Outdoor types are particularly drawn to Chile as you can climb, bike, ski, and ride your way around the countryside. You could also relax in the hot springs or party in one of the cosmopolitan cities.

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A very Merry Christmas to all our readers! Thanks for supporting us over the past couple of months. Plenty more exciting posts coming up for 2010…

Gothenburg, Sweden

Photo: Borevagen

Sao Paulo, Brasil

Photo: Silvio Tanaka

Bavaria

Photo: Leto A.

Taiwanese Christmas bread

Photo:  天曉得。

Alameda Ave, California

Photo: Thomas Hawk

New York

Photo: Keith Barlow

Coogee Beach, Australia

Photo: Kinho Pizzato

Quebec

Photo: Iamapix

Munich

Photo: Slowburn

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The northern lights or aurora borealis have fascinated many for thousands of years. A naturally occurring phenomenon, the lights appear as solar wind particles collide with air molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere, and emit excess energy as light.

The winter months provide the best conditions to see them in the northern regions of Iceland, Canada, Finland, Sweden and Norway. You’re not always guaranteed to see them, but on a clear evening, far away from natural lights, and as far north as possible, you could witness this incredible display of nature.

Photo credit

Photo credit

Photo credit

Photo credit

Where to stay

• Sweden: Icehotel – Built entirely from snow and ice, a stylish hotel north of the Arctic Circle in Lapland
• Iceland: Hotel Rangá – A member of the Special Hotels Of The World, a luxury resort 1hr from Reykjavik
• Finland: Holiday Club Hotel Saariselka – The northernmost spa hotel in Europe
• Canada: Explorer Hotel – In northwest Canada, 500km from the Arctic Circle

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