If someone blindfolded you, spun you around, and dropped you into the heart of Old Quebec, you’d swear you were in some corner of Europe — perhaps France. But surprise: you're standing in the only fortified city north of Mexico, nestled along the St. Lawrence River in Canada. Welcome to Quebec City, where cobblestone streets whisper old stories, and castle-like hotels pierce the sky.

In the heart of Bangkok, just a short walk from the chaos of Siam’s mega malls and BTS stations, there’s a hidden garden where time seems to pause. Here, surrounded by banana trees, spirit houses, and koi-filled ponds, sits a traditional Thai teakwood home that feels like it’s watching the modern city through antique wooden windows.