If an artist were to paint a map of Azerbaijan, its southernmost stretch would be covered in green tea gardens and citrus bushes, with a coastline dotted by picturesque lighthouses.
At the Jigokudani Monkey Park, Japanese macaques begin most days with a relaxing dip in their very own hot bath.
For more than a century, a secret imperial palace complex loomed over Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, sealed off to everyone except the country's leaders and the troops who guarded them.
Several hours before sunrise in Van, a city in the far east of Turkey framed by hills and a scenic lake, preparations for the most important meal of the day are already underway.
Since Thailand is 95% Buddhist, Bangkok is naturally home to hundreds of temples, known in Thai as "wats".
Portugal's Silver Coast and the rest of the Centro region surrounding Nazare are home to almost undiscovered treasures that are unfairly ignored by tourists, who usually visit only Lisbon or the wine country around Oporto in the north of the country.
In the tropical morning light, Malaysia's Lake Temengor is a glassy sheet of emerald green, deepened by the thick walls of rainforest that surround it.
With its narrow walkways, the constant rush of carts hauling goods in and out, and sashimi masters filling orders right on their cutting boards, Seoul's Noryangjin Fish Market is a worthy stop for adventurous foodies.
The junk boat, tall and wooden with three bright red sails glowing in the sunlight of Victoria Harbour, is one of Hong Kong's most iconic visual symbols.
Some emerge from the soft rock like reptiles basking in the sun. Others are puzzling hollows that resemble an ancient board game played all over the world. And a few are downright baffling.
If Las Vegas can become a global culinary capital, why not Siem Reap? This town in western Cambodia, whose bright lights and big hotels are fueled by the steady flow of visitors to the ancient city of Angkor, now serves up an international medley of imported flavors and aromas in a rather freewheeling style.
Rome, the Eternal City, has weathered invasions, conquests and lootings countless times since it was founded almost 2,800 years ago. Every assault has left its scars across the city, from the ruins of the Roman Forum to the hollow of the Circus Maximus, where chariots once raced.
Salvador Dali's whimsical collection, assembled by the man himself, is the ultimate statement from the famous surrealist. Best known for his uncanny paintings of melting clocks and his eccentric way of life, Dali had a grand vision, and this striking red fortress topped with giant eggs paints an intricate portrait of the celebrated artist.
Helga Jonsdottir still remembers in vivid detail the day her island home was swallowed by a volcano, as she and her family fled the molten lava alongside everyone else.
Spoilers! This story reveals the ending of "Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens".
