Madang, perched on the edge of Astrolabe Bay, feels like a well-kept secret of Papua New Guinea that’s framed by lush jungles and dotted with volcanic isles. Every June, Madang pulses with energy at the annual Madang Festival. Villages from across the province gather for ceremonies where dancers don feathered costumes, shells, and body paint. The beat of kundu drums rises through the air and stories woven in movement.

Freiburg was founded by the Dukes of Zähringen in 1120, and the layout of streets and squares of the rapidly prospering metropolis is still impressively reflected in today's cityscape.

Semarang is a port city on the north coast of Java, shaped by centuries of trade, migration, and cultural exchange. As an important hub during the Dutch colonial period, it developed into a city where Javanese traditions intersect with European and Chinese influences.

Limón, located on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, is a city shaped by Afro-Caribbean heritage, maritime trade, and lush tropical surroundings. Founded in the late 19th century as a port for exporting bananas and coffee, Limón developed a distinct cultural identity influenced by Jamaican, West African, and Central American traditions.

South Carolina draws travelers in with its layers of history, distinctive regional flavors, and landscapes that range from quiet marshes to mountain trails. In Charleston, cobblestone streets wind past antebellum homes and hidden courtyards. Beaufort, tucked along the Intracoastal Waterway, charms visitors with moss-draped oaks, shrimp boats, and preserved architecture that has earned it comparisons to a living movie set and was indeed, where several films, including *Forrest Gump*, were filmed.