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

A British general, a suggestive tree, a map of paradise.

The longest and widest floating bridge in the world.

This bridge made famous in a novel and on-screen wasn't actually built over the river Kwai.

A battle between nature and architecture in the Cambodian jungle.

This Brazilian town built by Freemasons is full of colonial Masonic architecture and symbolic imagery.

This small roadside eatery exists in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, as the equator runs right through it.

The home of half the world's population of critically endangered mountain gorillas.

Celebrated as a center of civilization, the remains of the ancient city have been nearly destroyed by greed, egoism, and war.

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

The world's second-tallest flagpole stands proud despite dropping rank.

This medieval citadel once guarded the western entrance of the Pamir Highway.

This ancient Silk Road outpost overlooking the Wakhan Valley is miraculously still standing.

A building facade covered with the statues of 11 giants of Tajik literature.

9th century Abbasid mosque, damaged in modern warfare.

A unique configuration of blown glass can be found inside this hotel lobby.

The cluster of igloo-like domes forms the remains of an ancient burial ground.

This enormous sports car themed amusement park is home to the world’s fastest roller coaster.

This indoor ski resort has a mountain contained inside a mall.

An abandoned desert hamlet swallowed up by sand.

This tiny, tranquil Senegalese island serves as a powerful symbol of the Atlantic slave trade.

This giant statue is the product of a mixture of corruption, Stalinist architecture, and North Korean manpower.

Despite a fraught and controversial history this African island holds a powerful monument to the tragedy of the slave trade.

An intimate look into the apartments of Jounieh via cable car.