In 2015, our family of five left our home country with nothing but carry on luggage in search of some adventure. We landed in Kaohsiung and ended up calling it home for 3 years. From the buzz of city life to the peacefulness of nature, you'll find it all within Kaohsiung. The public transportation is excellent, it's very safe, the food is amazing, the people are unbelievably friendly, and best of all you can spend the entire day running around the city very inexpensively. This map focuses specifically on the Yancheng and Qianjin Districts in the southern part of the city. Long ago considered to be the "downtown" Kaohsiung, the area holds many old style Taiwanese homes and monuments that the northern parts of the city are lacking. Recent revival efforts have brought in some more modern, artistic elements giving visitors the best of both worlds. Whatever your travel habits may be, Kaohsiung has something to offer all travelers.

MAPPING SPECIAL PLACES - A walk along London's Southbank! There is nothing quite like sitting down on a bench after a stroll along the south bank.
It’s such a whimsical place perfect for both Londoners and tourists alike.
And yes going to the South Bank is a touristy thing I still do after so many years of living in London. This space is special to me. In 2006 arrived in Waterloo Station on the Eurostar from Germany via Brussels with only one bag and the idea of staying here for one year. Everything about London and South Bank was new and exciting to me. Fast forward it was the beginning of many years of adventures in this special town. There are so many great places in London that I love and where I go to off the touristy beaten tracks, but for some reason, I always come back to this lively stretch of the river and its surrounding area. This is is one of the most vibrant parts of the city for me and such a great place to soak up London and it's fast-paced rhythm even if it is just watching busy people walk passing by. Whenever I cross the Golden Jubilee bridge at night after meeting up with friends in a bar on the South Bank, I think “This is London. I can’t believe I live here” when I look at the city skyline.

This map shows a selection of the spots you can discover when taking a walk along the Southbank - a perfect spot for a wander along the Thames or a drink with a view of the city skyline.

A trek across the midwestern MLB Baseball Stadiums

This place is special to me because... of it's beautiful architectural artistic history. I've always found Rome to be such an inspiring place as an artist, and I've been wanting to create something that would portray that very serene and almost surreal feeling I get from seeing and visiting Rome. The goal of this piece was to show Rome as a courtyard full of marble statues depicting my favorite Roman monuments and various tourists in ancient Roman garb!

POSITANO

Nichols Arboretum is one of the most beautiful spots on the University of Michigan's campus. Great place to get outside. Their peony garden has the largest collection of peonies in North America.

When it comes to describing my special place, it would be Ottawa, Canada, because that is where my grandmother lives. Like the bear in this picture, my grandmother is where my home is. She brings lots of joy, love, and beauty to the family.

Growing up, I spent every summer in Taipei. The metro was, by far, the best way to get around--it's affordable, efficient, clean, and easy to use! I highlighted popular attractions around the main metro lines to help you plan your next trip to the Taiwan, the heart of Asia.

This place is special to me, there are sweet memories when I was a teenager. I like to walk on the beach in sunset, exploring the island with my friends, and have a good tropical night party. Nusa Lembongan is an island located southeast of Bali, Indonesia. It is part of a group of three islands that make up the Nusa Penida district, of which it is the most famous.