Palawan Island stretches along the western edge of the Philippines, shaped by seafaring routes, Indigenous cultures, and relative isolation from the country’s major urban centers.
Charyn Canyon National Park is a protected area in southeastern Kazakhstan, east of Almaty, centered on the dramatic Charyn Canyon carved by the Charyn River. The park covers a landscape of deep gorges, dry valleys, cliffs, and semi-desert plains at the edge of the Tian Shan. Charyn Canyon is the park's best-known feature, with layers of sedimentary rock exposed along steep walls shaped by erosion.
Pendleton, Oregon, sits in the heart of the high desert region, where wide open skies meet rolling wheat fields and the rugged Blue Mountains. The city is widely recognized for its rich history in ranching, railroads, and wool production, which visitors can explore through preserved buildings and museums. Downtown Pendleton features brick storefronts, murals, and sculptures that reflect the city’s connection to both the frontier and the railroad era.
Paphos is a coastal city in southwestern Cyprus, combining a working harbor, Mediterranean beaches, historic neighborhoods, and one of the island's most important archaeological landscapes. The city is closely associated with Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess whose cult was centered in the Paphos region.
Tema, a vibrant city in Ghana's Greater Accra Region, offers a captivating blend of urban energy and coastal charm. As Ghana’s largest port city, Tema is a hub of economic activity, but it also boasts rich cultural and recreational attractions. The city's Harbour is one of the busiest in West Africa, facilitating significant maritime trade. Visitors can explore the port area, which provides insight into Ghana’s commercial and industrial sectors.
Sunlight enters through an opening above the weathered limestone formations inside the Sawa-i-Lau Caves in Fiji’s Yasawa Islands.
Photo Credit: Wendy Harman
Rising from Fiji’s northern Yasawa Islands, Sawa-i-Lau is a striking limestone island surrounded by an otherwise volcanic island chain. Its rugged shoreline conceals a series of partially flooded caverns, including a spacious chamber where sunlight filters through an opening above and illuminates a clear saltwater pool. Adventurous swimmers can also enter a darker inner cave through a short underwater passage. Rich in local legend, Sawa-i-Lau offers a memorable blend of natural beauty, cultural significance, and island adventure.