Supai is the most remote village in the United States, accessible by helicopter, horse or on foot. Despite it's tiny size, it packs in several of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world, surrounded by a lush desert oasis. Located in the Havasupai Indian Reservation in NW Arizona, Supai is a bucket list item!

This place is special to me because I have been creatively inspired by this place from childhood. Santiniketan is a small university town in West Bengal, India approximately 180 kilometres from Calcutta. It was the birth place of Bengal School of Art, a movement in the early 20th century, against colonial influence, which changed Indian art. Santiniketan school was established by poet-philosopher-visionary and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore which later became Visva Bharati University (1921) and attracted the most creative minds in the country and the world. Artists like Abanindranth Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar Baij contributed immensely to this place and to art education, embracing rural arts and crafts and an environment where art would be a part of life. The architecture of Santiniketan is unique and is a beautiful blend of various cultural influences fused with sculptures, art, music and literature. It attracts a lot of tourists as well as art enthusiasts as a hub of creativity. Classes are still taught in the open and nature and its seasons are still celebrated instead of religious festivals. My map concentrates on the main attractions, the multi layered culture and its inhabitants of this town – the Santhal community, the students, the flora and fauna. A trip to Santiniketan is like an art pilgrimage to me!

This place is special to me because of many reasons. When I first visited Cyprus a couple of years ago I couldn't imagine how many changes this trip will bring into my life. I was so inspired by nature and beautifully hidden villages of the island, that right upon my returning home I started to draw... after many years of telling myself it was too late to start. Now I think Cyprus is a real heaven for any artist and is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. This island is a mix of all best things you can see on Greek land and can sometimes even offer some extra bonuses :) On this map I tried to show my favorite places near Limassol, the places I love to return to and the places I can recommend to everyone, who's visiting the island for the first time.

This place is special to me because it is unlike any other place I have been to before. Holmön is a small island with a strong sense of community in the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland. In the process of moving through the island’s environment, working on student projects and engaging with locals, my classmates and I had ourselves become a part of its community.

The island is removed from the hustle and bustle of a busy outside world and characterized by its physical limitations. It depicts a place of excitement, exploration and powerful contrasts. The local climate is marked by large seasonal temperature differences which offer plenty of outdoor activities all year round. During the winter months Holmön has around 50 residents who are regularly cut off due to weather and ice conditions. Every summer tourists take over the island — more than a 1000 people a day attend the annual mail rowing and folk festival. My map gives a brief overview of selected activities the island Holmön has to offer.

This place is special to me because it was the city where I rediscovered my love for opera. City where Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was set, Verona is much more than the city of star-crossed lovers. With its rich history, beautiful architecture and unique cuisine, it was enough for me to fall in love with this charming little town. But the highlight of the trip was attending one of the shows at the ancient Roman amphitheater. I still remember the way that the singers performed under the beautiful night sky. To end the evening on a perfect note, we ate the best pistachio krapfen (donut) at an amazing little gem. It only opened late at night but that didn’t stop us from eating one too many donuts!

A map of my hometown, and everything that makes it special to those of us who call it home. Made with traditional and digital media.

Venice is the only place on Earth that brought me to tears upon seeing it for the first (and only) time. To me it is just such a unique and special place full of quirks, beauty and history. Flooding has always been a threat to this special city and coincidentally while I was illustrating this map, it was hit with the highest tide waters it's experienced in 50 years. A recent climate change study has said that if global warming is not addressed, Venice could be completely submerged by 2100. I do hope that we citizens of the Earth can work together to effect change so that this treasured city will not some day be only visible in photographs.

This place is special to me because Portsmouth NH is my hometown, even though I spent half my life moving around the country. I finally did move back, and just about every morning I have the privilege of walking through this picturesque and historic neighborhood, which is the south end of the city alongside the Piscataqua River.

This place is special to me because it’s where I fell deeply in love. El Born or La Ribera is the best neighbourhood in the greatest city. My husband and I first visited in 2006 and our hearts immediately felt that they belonged in this place. Now we travel to Barcelona every summer to speak in Spanish, wander the magical winding streets, eat the delicious tapas, drink all the cava, admire the architecture, visit the unique shops and galleries, people-watch in the parks and plazas, soak in the sunshine and breathe in the history. I will never tire of visiting it and I will never fully finish exploring all the secret treasures it holds. I hope you can imagine yourself getting lost in the unique charms around every corner, too.

This place is special to me because it’s my home city. This city is an extraordinary blend of Tatar, Russian, and many other cultures. I love its old streets and memorable landmarks, the unique history and national cuisine.

This place is special to me because my mother grew up here and we’ve spent almost every summer here since I was a little kid. Located in the northernmost part of the Philippines, Batanes is the smallest province and is known as “Paradise of the North” because of it’s picture-perfect sceneries. It is also popular for being a frequent destination for typhoons, it’s stone houses made of limestones, a shop that runs on people’s honesty (people pay through a drop box) and a lot more.

This place is special to me because I have always loved lighthouses and the scenery of the coast, and if you are looking for lighthouses Michigan is one of the best places to be. I went on a road trip through the state with my family a few years ago and the Upper Peninsula is one of the most beautiful places I have been. It is a trip I will always remember, and I wanted to express some of that beauty in this map.

This place is special to me because I recently moved from Chicago IL to Galway Ireland which has been a huge change of scenery. I try to walk down to this area of the city at lest once a day because it is always such a calm and beautiful place which never fails to put a smile on my face.

This place is special to me because it is the only neighbourhood in which I have lived, in Hong Kong, as an adult. I have been here for 13 years, and it's directly down the mountain from my Ma Ma's place (嫲嫲 – my father's mother), where I spent many summers as a child.

I love Sai Ying Pun because it has the perfect mixture of delicious Cantonese treats, historical buildings and traditional culture, alongside a splash of great western-style coffee, eggs, and so on. It's close to the heart of the city, yet quiet – and it's not even that far from some trails that take you up to the Peak.

This is a little island off the coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It’s got a local population of approximately 800, but in the summer this number quadruples. It is a vibrant community of activists, artists and young families. There is a supermarket, a school and other amenities to cater the local and tourist population. We have a tiny place here and always tell our kids that if fairies are real, they live on Hornby Island.