Brunei is a small country on the island of Borneo known for its wealth, tropical rainforests, and rich cultural heritage. The country’s landscapes are a mix of dense jungles, rivers, and coastal mangroves, offering a peaceful environment where nature remains largely intact.
Tonga is distinctly different to its neighboring island nations. This Polynesian kingdom, made up of 170 islands, carries a proud history that dates back over 3,000 years. On the main island of Tongatapu, travelers can explore ancient stone structures like the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui Trilithon—sometimes called the Stonehenge of the Pacific. Royal tombs in Lapaha offer a glimpse into the lineage of Tonga’s kings, while village life remains guided by customs that have changed little over centuries.
Manaus, capital of Brazil’s Amazonas state, is a city that rises unexpectedly from the rainforest. Once the center of the global rubber boom in the late 1800s, Manaus still holds onto that legacy with surprising elegance. The Teatro Amazonas, an opulent opera house imported piece by piece from Europe, sits at the heart of the city, its pink façade and domed roof tiled in the colors of the Brazilian flag. Today, it hosts concerts, festivals, and curious visitors eager to step back in time.
Ayutthaya, located about 80 kilometers north of Bangkok, Thailand, was the capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom from the 14th to the 18th century. Its ruins, set among rivers and canals, reveal a once-thriving city that was a hub of trade, politics, and culture, linking Southeast Asia with China, India, and Europe.