Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

In 2011, Bloomberg ranked Honolulu the 3rd best city in the United States. Number 1? Raleigh. Number 2? Arlington. Raise your hand if you would rather live in Raleigh or Arlington than Honolulu. Just think: These two could be kayaking on the Potomac River instead of the Ala Wai Canal. [2011]

Taipei, Taiwan

Chiang Kai-Shek died in 1975, and his very own 'Lincoln Memorial' opened in 1980. Democracy came later that decade when opposition parties were permitted to field candidates for election. Now, the Taiwanese are revising the history of their one-party past. What began as Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall became National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall. [2012]

Bangkok, Thailand

The Thonburi Canal in Bangkok is still a source of victuals for the locals.  It's also a source of trans-generational bonding and memories for a lifetime.  [2011]

Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

It can't be said often enough: Art needs to get out of the gallery and onto the landscape. This photograph is called "Where Cows Go on Holiday," and, thanks to the National Trust, everyone can enjoy it. [2009]

Macau S.A.R., China

Your choice: (a) What would the mid-day sun and a rainbow look like if there were no light or color in the world? (b) What would a half-buried Möbius strip look like if it were in the middle of a hiccup? (c) What would Sister Moon look like if she had just stolen a glance at Medusa? [2011]

Jerusalem, Israel

The plaza in front of Jerusalem's Western Wall functions as an outdoor synagogue. Thursday is an especially popular day for bar mitzvah celebrations. A smaller section of the plaza is also reserved for women, and there you can find bat mitzvahs going on. These ceremonies mark the 'coming of age' of a Jewish boy at age 13, or a Jewish girl at age 12. [1995]

Nassawadox, Virginia, USA

Jump in the cockpit and take off. Don't expect a macadam runway, though. At the Eastern Shore's Campbell Field, their motto is "Come roll on the grass." No foolin'. [2007]