Amazing Race

Phil Keoghan has been around the world and back ... many times as the host of the "Amazing Race." But what are his favorite places that he's visited? Click through this slideshow to check out his Top 10 destinations from the "Amazing Race" with exclusive personal photos and commentary on why each place is special from our favorite Kiwi.Thursday, September, 25, 2008, 6:25 PM

Is there anything better than going home? We’ve been to my homeland three times on “The Amazing Race.” One of my favorite places in the world is Queenstown in the South Island. I call it “The Adventure Capital” of the world. I did my first bungee jump there back in 1989 and recently broke an unofficial world record with the co-creator when nine of us leaped off the Kawarau Bridge. My parents live in Rolleston, which is just outside Christchurch. They’re both retired now and run a great bed and breakfast where they grow their own fruits and vegetables. Of course, seeing family is a big draw for me but I think New Zealand, which is only the size of the UK, packs a big punch for a small country. It has Fiords, snowy mountains, active volcanoes, great skiing, surfing, sailing, tasty Pinots, no snakes, incredible forests and a fantastic culture.Thursday, September, 25, 2008, 6:25 PM

I’ve got some Scottish blood in me so perhaps that’s why I always feel so at home there. From their dry sense of humor to their storytelling ability, there’s tons to love about the Scots. I typically don’t drink alcohol while on the Race as it doesn’t mix well with the hectic pace we’re keeping, but I had to break my own rule during season three of the show. Our greeter at Dundas Castle – one of the most beautiful places in all of Scotland - was insistent that I have a wee dram each time a Team arrived. This was the kind of guy you don’t argue with. When I pointed out that he resembled someone straight out of the movie “Braveheart,” he confirmed that he had worked on the film. In 2008, I decided it was time to get a closer look at the good folks of Scotland. And what better way to do so than by putting a golf ball from one coast to the other -- 107 miles over 4 days -- with nothing more than my trusty seven iron? I traveled from Greenock on the West Coast to St Andrews on the East Coast. After four exhausting days I made my way to the 18th hole, where miraculously, I made a birdie. Today my ball rests on the walls on the Dunvegan pub next to the tributes to the greatest golfers in the world. Thursday, September, 25, 2008, 6:25 PM

It would be fair to say that my dad is a geography buff. Whether he’s naming the world’s top 10 deepest lakes, longest rivers or tallest mountains, he’s essentially a walking encyclopedia. Obviously, after years of hearing his stories, his enthusiasm for visiting the wonders of the world has rubbed off on me. One of those wonders he talked about was Bolivia. At 1.5 times the size of Texas, it has mountains over 20,000 feet, volcanoes, Amazonian rainforests and the world’s largest salt flats. The capital, La Paz, sits at 11,000 feet above sea level. Believe me, you’ll know all about altitude if you visit. Thursday, September, 25, 2008, 6:25 PM

Even flying on their national airline, Thai, you understand why many regard the people of Thailand as the friendliest in the world. During my first trip there in the early ‘90s, I worked with a facilitator who really took his time to give me a local perspective. Bangkok has a vibrant energy filled with Tuk Tuks and auto rickshaws racing in every direction. We’ve had a lot of fun incorporating them into the show over the years. The city has a great mix of new and old architecture. Like India, Thailand displays wonderful diversity. The south has its world-class beaches and the north has its exotic, tropical jungles where elephants roam through ancient villages. Thailand also boasts a number of magnificent palaces, many still used by the royal family. Thursday, September, 25, 2008, 6:25 PM

My first visit to Costa Rica was about 15 years ago. Following my “Life List,” I found myself flying through the jungle while attached to wires and being suspended 100 feet above the forest floor. I slept above the jungle that night, perched on a small platform and woke up to the smell of freshly brewed local coffee. Talk about biodiversity…Costa Rica boasts the greatest density of species in the world with 5 percent of the world’s biodiversity. Situated right in the middle of the Americas, its borders include the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. If you’re looking for a place to feel truly remote, then Costa Rica is the closest place to the U.S. to do just that. With its spectacular national parks, ecotourism is huge and you literally feel like you’re in the middle of an Indiana Jones movie. I love the beaches and all the adventure options for trekking, surfing, white water rafting and, of course, canopy tours.Thursday, September, 25, 2008, 6:25 PM

If I had to pick one country to live in based solely on the locals’ approach to life, it would be Italy. It has everything I love in excess: culture, cycling, history, culinary delights and Italians, who, in my opinion, have mastered the art of chilling. I love visiting the small towns with ancient buildings, quaint stores and narrow streets. There’s also uniformity to the architecture which I find calming. Italy also has a complete lack of visual pollution. No signs, no billboards, no sale signs … in fact no advertising at all. This summer my wife and I decided to take on the Dolomites, riding some of the Giro d’Italia’s (Italy’s Tour de France) infamous climbs, including Stelvio, Mororola and Fedia. In the end, it’s 50,000 vertical feet in six days. The whole country is a cyclist’s dream destination.Thursday, September, 25, 2008, 6:25 PM

Talk about remote. I remember exactly when I added Mongolia to my “Life List”. I grew up on the island of Antigua, in the West Indies, and since we didn’t’ have TV, my escape was through all the great books I had at my disposal. As a plant scientist, my dad always had great pictorials on hand. I think those images are a huge reason why I picked up the travel bug so early in life. One of those images featured a proud Mongolian hunter sitting on a horse, holding a large eagle.The image was entitled “Hunting with Eagles.” Eagle hunting, one of the most dramatic and primal relationships between man and beast, is alive and well in the remote mountains of western Mongolia. I love places that still maintain their individual tradition and Mongolia has it in spades.Thursday, September, 25, 2008, 6:25 PM

Before my visit to Ethiopia I had no idea what to expect. I pictured a dry, barren, brown landscape and instead discovered lush green mountains. On the show we traveled to the town of Lalibela, where the incredible St George Church is literally cut into the red rock. The town is located at 7,000 feet above sea level and inhabited by a mere 15,000 people. Following one of our pit-stops, I decided I couldn’t miss the opportunity to go for a run with the locals. Our destination? A local, 10,000-foot-high mountain. As we headed out of town dozens of local kids, all fit and incredibly enthusiastic, joined us for the run. After an hour of climbing, one of them effortlessly ran past me. When I approached him, he said, “You’re pretty fit for an old man.” Looking down I realized he was wearing a cheap pair of plastic shoes. After being invited into his home for tea at the end of the run, I arranged to get some proper running shows for the young man, who descends 3,000 feet every day for school and then climbs 3,000 feet back home. Thursday, September, 25, 2008, 6:25 PM

Of all the places we visit on “The Amazing Race,” India would be my favorite. No matter how many times we go back, there is always something new to discover and we always get great reactions from the Racers. Many of our teams have never owned a passport and some have never traveled outside their home states. Therefore, to suddenly find themselves in India is nothing short of a complete sensory overload. Of course that makes for great television! I love India’s diversity, culture and history, but I think what sets it apart are the people. One of my fondest memories from my numerous trips to India is playing cricket with the Bombay Police Cricket Team.Thursday, September, 25, 2008, 6:25 PM

Japan is certainly not the cheapest place to visit, but it sure is unique. I love how the cities are surrounded by cutting-edge technology contrasted by all the great history you can find in other parts of the country. Walking through the streets of Tokyo is like drinking 20 cups of coffee. I find it astounding that so many people can exist with such order in one of the most densely populated cities in the world. I simply love the culture -- sumo, sushi, bonsa and karate.Thursday, September, 25, 2008, 6:25 PM

For the first time ever, the complete route of the race has been released before the season starts. Check it out and follow the teams as they fight for $1 million on CBS, Sundays at 8pm ET.Friday, September, 26, 2008, 5:26 PM