Saudi Arabia

The Lotus Farm
The Lotus Farm is basically a large lake producing thousands of lotus flowers which are harvested to create a unique, silk-like textile. Lotus is, of course, used in Khmer cuisine as well. Pretty much all parts of the plant are edible but we prefer the dried seeds. They have a nut-like flavor and are often sold dried in western countries. Lotus farm makes for a nice, non-touristy detour from the main route and you can get a good picture of how people live in Cambodia.

Ark of the Covenant
By many accounts, the ark is kept in Axum, Ethiopia. While there, you will be able to see the chapel where it is kept but it is heavily guarded and only one person has access. The closest you can get to it is the nearby Old Church of St Mary of Zion where one can see stunning frescoes and chat with the priest. Axum itself is a VERY religious but also very historic place with many lesser known spots to discover.

Aral Sea
Once a third largest, sweet water mass on the planet, the Aral Sea is just a sad reminder of our destructive nature today. Long drive from Muynak - where one can see last local ships, anchored in sands 150 kilometers from the nearest water - the Aral Sea is an eerie site today. Dead, lifeless and completely abandoned, this area is a true treat for dystopia seekers. The drive there is 4 hours long, through the steppe and some stunning geology.

Leptis Magna in the Rain
Most visitors picture the Libyan desert as dry, sunbaked, and unchanging—but every so often, the skies open up. When rain falls over Leptis Magna, it feels like walking through a dream. Water runs along 2,000-year-old Roman drains, puddles form in the market square, and marble columns shimmer in soft light. The ancient stones seem to breathe again. Few people are lucky enough to witness this moment—but if you do, you’ll never forget it.

Stećak Monuments
Just recently added to UNESCO World Heritage list, stećak tombstones are shared by nearly all the nations of the Balkans but Bosnia has most of them: about 60 000. There are several variations of this unique monument and most recognizable are the ones in the shape of a sarcophagus with various decorations on them. Radimlja necropolis near Stolac in Hercegovina is one of major sites to visit if curious about this unique tradition.

Tailored Clothing
One of the coolest things one can get in Vietnam is definitely a piece of tailored clothing. Numerous local tailors offer all sorts of clothing: from simple summer shirts to three-piece suits. Local Hanoi tailors are known for exceptional and fast work. Hoi An is one of the most popular places to get your clothes tailored at more than 300 tailors and leather-workers.

A Nation of Poets
In Somalia, poetry is more than art—it’s conversation, law, memory, and soul. Known as the “Nation of Poets,” Somalia has preserved its stories through verse for centuries. At tea stalls or during camel trading, it’s not unusual for someone to burst into spontaneous poetry—sometimes in praise, sometimes in protest. In the absence of written records, the oral tradition lives on, line by line.