Da Lat is a highland city in Lam Dong Province, central Vietnam, situated on the Lang Biang Plateau. Its elevated setting gives the city a cooler climate than much of southern Vietnam, while pine forests, hills, lakes, and agricultural valleys surround the urban area. Da Lat is known for flower cultivation, vegetable farms, coffee plantations, and distinctive French-influenced architecture.

Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, is a city of striking contrasts where gilded temples stand beside sleek skyscrapers and centuries-old traditions thrive amid modern life. At its heart is the Grand Palace, a dazzling complex that once housed the Thai kings, along with Wat Phra Kaew, the revered Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, set against the wooded slopes of the Margalla Hills in the north of the country. Planned as a purpose-built capital, the city is organized around broad avenues, landscaped sectors, parks, and green belts, giving it a different character from Pakistan’s older cities. The Faisal Mosque is its most recognizable landmark, with its tent-shaped design and prominent position beneath the hills.

Bulgaria is a republic in southeastern Europe. The capital and largest city is Sofiya. Bulgarian culture has been influenced successively by Byzantine, Greek, Russian, and Western cultures.

Bear Mountain State Park occupies a rugged section of the Hudson Highlands on the western bank of the Hudson River, about 45 miles north of New York City. The park covers roughly 5,000 acres of forests, mountain slopes, lakes, and riverfront, making it one of the best-known public recreation areas in the Hudson Valley. Its landscape supports hiking, biking, fishing, boating, swimming, picnicking, and winter activities.