The South Orkney Islands, lying in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula, are a remote and rarely visited corner of the world. This small archipelago, claimed by both the United Kingdom and Argentina, is largely uninhabited except for a few research stations.

Ashland is a small city in southern Oregon, set in the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains near the California border. The community is known for its tree-lined streets, historic downtown, Lithia Park, and access to surrounding mountain landscapes. Ashland’s compact center contains independent shops, restaurants, galleries, and historic buildings, while Ashland Creek runs through the city and into the park.

Radium Hot Springs is a small community in southeastern British Columbia, located in the Columbia Valley at the entrance to Kootenay National Park. The village sits between the Purcell and Rocky Mountains, with the Columbia River and wide valley landscapes nearby. It is best known for its mineral hot springs, where naturally heated water emerges from the mountains and is used in the Radium Hot Springs pools.

Medan is the capital of north Sumatra and the third largest city in Indonesia. It is a huge, sprawling city and a popular entry/exit point for travellers. The solid Dutch buildings of the affluent older suburbs inspire images of bloated bureaucrats and burghers from the colonial era, while jerry-built lean-tos house the bulk of its population.

The Costa del Sol, stretching along the southern coast of Spain in Andalusia, is famed for its golden beaches, lively coastal towns, and sunny Mediterranean climate.