Picture this: you’re wandering along a crumbling red brick wall, surrounded by a water-filled moat, serenaded by the gentle buzz of motorbikes and the aroma of sizzling garlic and lemongrass. Welcome to Chiang Mai Old City — a square kilometer of magic tucked inside the northern hills of Thailand.

What happens when a centuries-old Indigenous philosophy turns into a giant, colorful celebration on a mountaintop? You get the Guelaguetza Festival—a dazzling display of community, culture, and generosity that transforms Oaxaca into a living stage of ancient traditions. It’s not just a dance festival. It’s a living embodiment of the Zapotec spirit of giving.