Pettah's beautiful floating market was once a stinky canal in a sketchy industrial area.

This mesmerizing architectural wonder will take your breath away with its unusual color patterns.

Billed as the "largest natural flower garden in the world" this Middle Eastern show field has little competition at 45 million flowers.

A faithful reproduction of Al-Jazari's enormous water clock.

This rickety old shed hides a trove of secondhand literary treasures.

On any given day this sprawling market houses literally tons of government-regulated gold, gems, and precious metals.

A preposterously luxurious hotel with gold-plated iPads, Rolls Royce chauffeurs, and a staff that trains by watching "Downton Abbey."

This artificial archipelago was supposed to resemble a map of the world.

Make your own fake treats at this factory and workshop in the epicenter of Japan's food replica industry.

This bazaar is one of the oldest in the Arabian world.

This spectacular mosque houses the second-largest chandelier in the world.

Experience park where visitors are told to expect the unexpected.

A magical place that lets you play in and explore the world of Studio Ghibli.

The abandoned Japanese amusement park once loomed as a dystopian Disneyland.

If Hello Kitty were Mickey Mouse, this would be Disneyland.

The Japanese mayo factory famous for its cute mascot.

An unlikely hit, this museum is dedicated to the inventor of instant ramen and cup noodles.

This historical theme park celebrates all things noodle.

A sprawling nature preserve harbors the world's only living dragons.

This nightmarish children's plaything was left grotesque to help kids conquer their fear.

This family tattoo parlor has been inking religious pilgrims in the Middle East for 700 years.

Collection dedicated to brands, packaging and advertising.

A special shop catering to the needs of things that go bump in the night, and also helps kids become writers.

This ornate Victorian marketplace was the setting for Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron in the Harry Potter films.