And the winners are:

1. Great Wall – China
2. Petra – Jordan
3. Christ the Redeemer – Brazil
4. Machu Picchu – Peru
5. Chichen Itza – Mexico
6. Colosseum – Italy
7. Taj Mahal – India

And retaining its status as one of the original seven wonders, The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

The campaign to pick the seven new wonders was begun in 1999 by Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber. His Switzerland-based foundation, called New7Wonders, received almost 200 nominations from around the world. The list of candidates was narrowed down to 21 by early last year. Voting took place over the past six years, but gathered pace only in recent months.

Weber aims to encourage cultural diversity by supporting, preserving and restoring monuments, and inspire people to value their heritage.

His foundation said it would use 50 percent of net revenue from the project to fund restoration efforts worldwide. One of them is a mission to rebuild the giant Bamiyan Buddha statue in Afghanistan, blown up in 2000 by the Taliban regime.

Weber said he was starting a new campaign Sunday to choose the new seven natural wonders of the world.

“If you want to save something, you first have to truly appreciate it,” he told the crowd.

Source: International Herald Tribune

There’s only 7 days and 7 hours until the announcement of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Have you voted yet?

In the running are 21 candidates, one of which is a honorary candidate – The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The 21 candidates are:

1. Acropolis of Athens – Greece
2. Alhambra – Spain
3. Angkor Wat – Cambodia
4. Chichen Itza – Mexico
5. Christ the Redeemer – Brazil
6. Colosseum – Italy
7. Easter Island Moais – Chile
8. Eiffel Tower – France
9. Great Wall – China
10. Hagia Sophia – Turkey
11. Kiyomizu Temple – Japan
12. Kremlin, Red Square, and Saint Basil’s Cathedral – Russia
13. Machu Picchu – Peru
14. Neuschwanstein Castle – Germany
15. Petra – Jordan
16. Pyramids of Giza – Egypt (Honorary Candidate)
17. Statue of Liberty – United States of America
18. Stonehenge – United Kingdom
19. Sydney Opera House – Australia
20. Taj Mahal – India
21. Timbuktu – Mali

As an Honorary Candidate, The Pyramids of Giza is not included in the voting anymore.

I’ve already voted months ago, but I can’t remember which landmarks I voted for. If I were to vote now, my vote would be for: Acropolis of Athens, Angkor Wat, Chichen Itza, Colosseum, Easter Island Moais, Machu Picchu, and Petra.

Though nothing from the Philippines made it to the 77 shortlist, the Banaue Rice Terraces made it to Fodor’s 7 New Wonders of the World:

Banaue Rice Terraces, Banaue, Philippines
Cut by hand into a mountainside at least 2,000 years ago, the Banaue Rice Terraces wrap around a mountain and seem to touch the sky. The tallest terraces reach an altitude of almost 5,000 feet. Each terrace boasts innovative irrigation systems that divert nearby springs and streams. Visitors can wander the multitude of trails in the area, but if you venture here be prepared for scads of tourist shops near the best viewpoints. One of the best times to see the terraces is at sunrise, when light flows over the mountain like gold water.

Fodor’s list also includes the Tian Tan Buddha in Hong Kong, The Palms in the United Arab Emirates, and *shudder* Disney World in the USA.

The New Seven Wonders of the World will be announced on July 7, 2007 at Lisbon, Portugal.