Bangladesh

Durga Puja, one of the biggest annual Hindu festivals, starts on 9 October and idol-makers across Bangladesh have been working round the clock.

Combining two of Bangladesh's greatest loves – rice and spice – jhal muri is a pungent snack prepared with drama by street-side vendors with cult followings.

Each year, approximately 30 people are killed by tigers in the Sundarbans - so why do locals revere rather than fear these killer cats?

Bangladesh has some of the most dangerous waterways on Earth, but locals still swear by the historic paddlewheel steamers built nearly a century ago.

In Bangladesh, natural disasters seem to be the only constant. Living with such unpredictability means that resilience and adaptability have become the nation's default settings.

While the US celebrates with hot dogs and fireworks, freedom festivities can take many forms.

Cox’s Bazar may not have the surf of Hawaii or the beach culture of Australia, but it is an intriguingly offbeat proposition for the truly adventurous surfer.

For those who want more than the must-see highlights, off-the-beaten-track ideas include floating rice markets and wild elephant spotting.