The Thar Desert stretches across northwestern India, with its largest Indian expanse lying in Rajasthan and extending toward the borders of Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. It is a dry landscape of sand dunes, gravel plains, rocky ground, thorn scrub, and scattered grasslands rather than an entirely sandy wilderness. Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Bikaner are among the best-known gateways to the desert, while smaller settlements reveal how people have adapted to scarce water and extreme temperatures. The

Mai Chau is a rural valley in Hoa Binh Province in northern Vietnam, located several hours west of Hanoi and surrounded by limestone mountains and rice fields. The area is known for its quiet villages, elevated wooden stilt houses, and the daily life of the White Thai ethnic community.

Gyumri is Armenia's second-largest city and the capital of Shirak Province, located on a high plateau in the country's northwestern region. The city is known for its distinctive black and red volcanic-stone architecture, broad streets, historic districts, and strong artistic traditions. Its setting near the Turkish border places it among open plains and volcanic landscapes, with Mount Aragats visible from parts of the surrounding region.

Lecce is a city in southern Puglia, at the center of the Salento peninsula, known for its historic buildings made from the region’s soft, honey-colored limestone. The old center contains elaborate churches, palaces, courtyards, and narrow streets, many decorated with carved columns, figures, floral motifs, and other details associated with Lecce Baroque. Piazza del Duomo and Piazza Sant’Oronzo form two of the city’s principal public spaces, while the Roman amphitheater remains visible at the hea

The Ashanti Region is located in southern Ghana and is one of the country’s most influential cultural and economic areas. Centered on the city of Kumasi, the region is known as the traditional homeland of the Ashanti people, whose history and institutions continue to shape local identity.