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.

This is a watercolor painting of one of my favorite places - Maui! "Maui no ka oi" means "Maui is the best" in Hawaiian. It includes 12 of the places I plan on visiting next month. A trip to Maui is not complete without a visit to Haleakala, 'Iao Valley, and Mama's Fish House! I love hiking, visiting national and state parks, and seeing the beautiful, unique beauty of Hawaii. I can't wait to snorkel and travel the road to Hana for the first time!

This place is special to me because there is something magical about Lititz, especially during the Christmas season. Even though it is my hometown, the time I spend downtown always feels special. Each shop, cafe, and restaurant is unique and has that hard-to-define small town feel. There is so much to learn about the town's history (founded in 1756 by Count Zinzendorf, a Moravian who named the town after a Bohemian castle). And there is nothing like standing beside friends and neighbors during Christmas in the Park -- singing carols together by candlelight, listening to local school children singing, and watching the Christmas tree light up. Lititz was voted "America's Coolest Small Town" (by Budget Travel magazine in 2013) for so many great reasons! Come visit! (The artwork on this map comes from the woodslice ornaments I paint for the Purple Robin Reserve shop, which sells artwork from over 140 local artists.)

I was adopted from China and moved to the USA when I was 8 months old. 14 years later, I travelled back to see the country in which I was born. This map is illustrating my return trip. It's certainly not a conventional map, as it is very personal to me and my story, but I'm proud to show it and give representation to other adoptees like myself!

Ann Arbor is a very special wonderful place to live. It has so much to offer - something for everyone to enjoy. I made this map to share some of my favorite places in Ann Arbor that have been great fun to discover and experience.

This place is special to me because it’s the city where I arrived as an outsider, and left as a local. The map depicts “My Leeds” — the landmarks which helped me navigate the city when I first arrived as a university fresher, and the bars where I spent many incredible nights into early mornings. Known as “the London of the North”, Leeds grew out of Britain’s Industrial Revolution, and its rich, diverse history is reflected in the vibrant and eclectic city we see today. From elegant victorian shopping arcades and architectural splendour, to boozy bar-crawls and toe-tapping music venues, Leeds has plenty to offer the wide-eyed country boy when first moving away from home. No matter how many times I return to this city, there’s always a quirky new bar or restaurant to add to the extensive list of interesting places on offer, and although I may not currently live there, I always consider it to be home. Included in the map are not only the places, but the people who made this city an obvious, unquestioned choice for my favourite place — a place “where there’s music, and there’s people, and they’re young and alive” (The Smiths, 1986).