The Cook Islands, a group of 15 islands scattered across the South Pacific, offer a rare blend of Polynesian tradition and laid-back island charm. Rarotonga, the largest and most visited island, is ringed by a turquoise lagoon and backed by lush mountains. Visitors can circle the entire island in under an hour, stopping along the way for fresh coconut, beachside cafés, or a quick swim in the clear lagoon.

Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, grew from a modest colonial port into a city shaped by trade, migration, and independence.

The Tobago Cays are a small cluster of uninhabited islands and reefs in the Southern Grenadines, known for their crystalline waters, coral formations, and vibrant marine life.

Sapporo, (säp-pô´rô), capital of Hokkaido prefecture, SW Hokkaido, Japan. One of Japan's most rapidly growing urban centers, Sapporo is famous for its annual snow festival. It was the site of the 1972 winter Olympics.

Kaziranga National Park stretches across the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, shaped as much by water as by wildlife.