Madurai is a major city in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, known for its long-standing role as a center of religion, trade, and learning. Set along the Vaigai River, it has grown into a busy urban area while retaining a strong connection to its temple-centered layout.

Saint-Benoît is a commune on the eastern side of Réunion, a French island in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Facing the sea and extending inland toward the volcanic highlands, it lies in one of the island’s wetter regions, where frequent rainfall supports dense vegetation and productive farmland.

Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, has long served as a cultural and trade crossroads in the Andaman Sea. Centuries ago, it was a stopover for merchants trading tin, spices, and textiles, with influences from Chinese, Portuguese, Indian, and Malay travelers still reflected in the island’s architecture and cuisine. Inland, the Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary protects rainforest habitat home to gibbons, civets, and exotic birds.

Ampefy is a highland town in central Madagascar, situated in the Itasy region west of Antananarivo. The area is known for its volcanic landscape, with Lake Itasy forming the center of a region shaped by ancient eruptions. Rolling hills, fertile farmland, volcanic cones, and streams surround the lake, creating a landscape that differs from Madagascar’s drier western and southern regions.

Beziers today is a dynamic city whose oldest houses are laid out in the elliptical pattern revealing the underlying Roman Amphitheatre, which is currently being excavated. The Beziers townspeople are passionate about rugby and the bullfights held in their modern arena.