CZECH REPUBLIC
Following Czechoslovakia's Velvet Revolution in 1989, the Czech Republic and Slovakia finally sealed their Velvet Divorce in 1993. Now, Prague neighborhoods like elegant Vinohrady and energetic Žižkov are buzzing, and a country full of emerging microbreweries proves there's more to Czech beer than Pilsner Urquell or Budvar. Add virtue to these delicious liquid vices by cycling and hiking through the idiosyncratic landscapes of Bohemian Switzerland or the Český ráj region. Away from bustling Prague, discover quieter provincial gems like Olomouc, Telč and Loket, all still retaining the essence of Bohemian and Moravian culture.
EAST TIMOR
East Timor finally achieved independence in 2002, 27 strife-torn and tragic years after initially declaring independence from Indonesia in 1975. Visitors will be rewarded with an intensely warm welcome from the locals. The easygoing capital Dili is a hub for thirsty UN and NGO staff looking for new drinking buddies, and across on sleepy Atauro Island, a fledgling ecotourism scene supports hiking and diving. Explore East Timor's Portuguese heritage amid the faded colonial architecture of Baucau, and check travel advisories on the country's security situation before leaving home.
ERITREA
An addictive combination of sleepy African vibes, suberb coffee and an Italian colonial past also showcases cubist, expressionist and futurist architecture in the Eritrean capital of Asmara. In nearby Massawa, centuries-old Islamic buildings linger in narrow, labyrinthine streets, and the port is the departure point to diving amid Red Sea corals in the Dahlak Archipelago. Tensions are still rife between Eritrea and Ethiopia, so be sure to check current travel advisories carefully.
SLOVAKIA
Following Slovakia's independence in 1993, Bratislava seems in no hurry to become a bustling Central European metropolis, and the cool cafes and bars of the Slovakian capital's beautifully preserved old town are still largely tourist free - take that, Prague! Look forward also to being continuously surprised by the funky street art lurking around every corner. Meanwhile, in a region crammed with dramatic castles, Slovakia's Spiš Castle trumps most with an audacious hilltop location, craggy towers and gloomy dungeons straight from a Hammer horror flick. Get active in the High Tatras National Park before dissolving your weary limbs into Piešťany's healing spa waters.
PALAU
Swim with 10 million jellyfish in Palau's renowned Jellyfish Lake - don't worry, the local species have evolved with an absence of stingers. With a population of just 20,000, one of the world's newest countries is also one of the smallest. The tiny island nation of Palau showcases some of the Pacific's best diving opportunities with more than 60 vertical drop-offs punctuating locations like Blue Corner, Shark City and Turtle Cove. In 2001, the Palau Shark Sanctuary was established to further protect Palau's sharks from the Asian shark-fin industry. As Palau only achieved independence from United States trusteeship in 1994, you'll need to come equipped with US dollars.
SERBIA
Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia from 1990, Serbia has been less open to travelers than neighboring Croatia or nearby Slovenia. Now Belgrade's gritty cityscape and Europe's most energetic nightlife scene are attracting a vanguard of curious expat residents and intrepid visitors. It's probably your best chance to experience what Prague was like following the fall of communism in 1989. Other essential musical thrills include the annual Exit Festival - recent acts have included the Chemical Brothers, Patti Smith and Kraftwerk - and the wildly frantic Guca Festival, drawing 600,000 visitors annually for the best in manic Roma (gypsy) trumpet playing.
BOSNIA & HERCEGOVINA
For centuries, Sarajevo was on the fault line of religion, culture and history, and in today's capital of Bosnia & Hercegovina, mosques, churches and synagogues all huddle beside each other and the Neretva River. The city has emerged from the dark days of the siege of Sarajevo from 1992 to 1996 as an inclusive and collaborative centre for the arts. The annual summer festival Nights of Bascarsija showcases music, art and dance in Sarajevo's compact Ottoman quarter, and the Sarajevo Film Festival is one of Europe's most important. Poignant memories of the Balkan Wars include Mostar's reconstructed bridge. Bosnia & Hercegovina is an emerging adventure-tourism destination, with excellent whitewater rafting on the Una and Neretva rivers.
KAZAHKSTAN
Fuelled by revenues from copious oil and gas reserves, Almaty and Astana have emerged as modern-day boomtowns from the Central Asian steppe. But the nomadic roots of Kazakhstan, which gained independence from Moscow in 1991, are still celebrated with one of the world's more...er...interesting cuisines. How does beshbarmak (an offal stew) and horsemeat sausage washed down with a shot of vodka sound? Celebrate the coming of spring with dancing, Kazakh food and equestrian events at the festival of Nauryz in late March.
MONTENEGRO
Despite Montenegro (which split from Serbia in 2006) being the smallest piece of the Balkans jigsaw, the rugged country packs in a geography textbook of natural features and spectacles. The country's eponymous 'Black Mountains' cradle the perfect medieval town at Kotor, and the pine-scented Tara River is Europe's deepest canyon and a growing location for river rafting. The tiny island of Sveti Stefan, irredeemably picturesque and joined to the mainland by a slender isthmus, is rapidly regaining its pre-Balkan Wars status as one of Europe's most exclusive destinations.
KOSOVO
Kosovo declared unilateral independence from Serbia in 2008, and though almost 70 other nations including the US, Germany and the UK accept Kosovo as an independent state, UN membership remains elusive due to the veto-trumping machinations of the Security Council. Accommodation prices can be relatively high, so this is definitely one for the true country collectors out there. In the Kosovar capital of Pristina, visit Bill Clinton Blvd, complete with a giant billboard of the former US president.
.webp)
