Deserts to Skylines
A picture of a desert up to the sky to represent this post “Deserts to Skylines”
Editor’s note: This post will continue to evolve as I do.
Welcome back, jetsetters and travelers. The Around the World series is an ongoing journey through every country, six at a time. It’s designed for the curious-minded. For those who might not yet know every country name of flag yet, but want to. Each post offers a glimpse of culture, geography, and identity, helping us all see how vast and beautifully connected this world really is.
This week’s chapter, “Deserts to Skylines,” carries us through lands of tradition and transformation. Where ancient sands meet rising cities, faith and innovation live side by side. From Pakistan’s valleys to Palestine’s deep-rooted resilience, the Philippines island energy to Qatar’s desert luxury, and from Saudi Arabia’s sacred heartlands to Singapore’s futuristic skyline, these nations remind us that progress and heritage can share the same horizon.
So, grab your curiosity and sense of wonder because today we’re journeying across landscapes that stretch from quiet dunes to glittering skylines, discovering what rises when a culture honors both its past and its potential. Come along and join us on these travels through: Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore.
My hand-drawn flag of Pakistan
PAKISTAN
Official name: The Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Pronunciation: pack-ih-stan
Capital: Islamabad
Official language: Urdu and English
Location: South Asia coast in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Iran, Afghanistan, China, and India
Most known for: Being the top producer in the world of hand-sown soccer balls
Fun fact: Highest international paved road in the world, the Karakoram Highway at an elevation of 15,397 feet
Recent news article: VIDEO: Pakistan - a new olive oil hub? (Rani Wahidi, 2025)
My knowledge: I’m not too familiar with the Pakistan
My hand-drawn flag of Palestine
PALESTINE
Official name: State of Palestine
Pronunciation: PAL-es-tine
Capital: East Jerusalem
Official language: Arabic
Location: In West Asia (also considered to be the Middle East & MENA) in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Egypt, Israel, and Jordan
Most known for: Being the “Holy Land”
Fun fact: Roughly 45% of Palestine’s land is used to grow olive trees
Recent news article: Al-Shifa was a dream and a nightmare (Hadeel Awad, 2025)
My knowledge: I’m aware of Palestine
My hand-drawn flag of Philippines
PHILIPPINES
Official name: The Republic of the Philippines
Pronunciation: fi-luh-peenz
Capital: Manila
Official language: Filipino and English
Location: Is a group of islands in Southeastern Asia, north of the equator
Surrounding countries: Near Brunei, Indonesia, and Taiwan
Most known for: Stunning natural beauty with over 7,000 islands
Fun fact: World’s longest Christmas season as it extends from September to January
Recent news article: Things to do in Metro Manila This November 2025 (Daphne Sagun, 2025)
My knowledge: Slightly familiar with Philippines
My hand-drawn flag of Qatar
QATAR
Official name: The State of Qatar
Pronunciation: kuh-taar
Capital: Doha
Official language: Arabic
Location: Western Asia as part of MENA (Middle East) in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Saudi Arabia
Most known for: Its role as a global mediator
Fun fact: World’s second flattest country behind the Maldives
Recent news article: UN Women at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha (UN Women, 2025)
My knowledge: I don’t have much knowledge on this topic
My hand-drawn flag of Saudi Arabia
SAUDI ARABIA
Official name: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Pronunciation: sau-dee uh-ray-bee-uh
Capital: Riyadh
Official language: Arabic
Location: Western Asia, located in the Middle East (part of MENA) in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emigrates, Oman, and Yemen
Most known for: Its religious significance as the location of the holy cities of Medina and and Mecca
Fun fact: Largest country in the world with no permanent rivers
Recent news article: Saudi Arabia Unveils Tourism: a Bold Global Platform Set to Redefine and Shape a New Horizon for Tourism at Scale (Tourise, 2025)
My knowledge: I don’t have much knowledge
My hand-drawn flag of Singapore
SINGAPORE
Official name: Republic of Singapore
Pronunciation: sing-uh-poor
Capital: Singapore
Official language: English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil
Location: Island country located in Southeastern Asia in the Northern Hemisphere (just above the equator)
Surrounding countries: Near Malaysia and Indonesia
Most known for: Known as “instant Asia” for its ability to offer a diverse cultural experience in a short amount of time
Fun fact: Singapore is a city-state. This means that the city of Singapore comprises the entire country
Recent news article: How the idea of convergence shaped the new identity for Singapore’s ArtScience Museum (Tom May, 2025)
My knowledge: I’m not quite familiar with Singapore
From Pakistan’s rugged peaks to Singapore’s polished towers, this chapter reminded me that progress doesn’t mean leaving history behind. It means building with it. These six nations show how tradition and transformation aren’t opposites, they’re threads in the same story. Faith, resilience, and imagination shape skylines just as much as steel and stone ever could.
Travel, in many ways, teaches us the same thing. It’s not always about seeing what’s new, it’s about noticing what continues to endure. Whether we’re standing in a desert or in a city, there’s always something ancient beneath our feet.
So as Around the World continues, I hope “Deserts to Skylines” inspires you to look beyond the surface. To see how culture evolves, adapts, and still finds its way to the horizon.
If you’ve ever lived in, visited, or dreamed of one of these countries, I’d love to hear what stuck out most. Was it the people, the pace, or the feeling of it? Come read Deserts to Skylines and join me on this ongoing journey across the world, one story at a time.
If you’re new here, “Just the Beginning” is a great resource for our travels.
As a signature of my blog, I’d like to end this post with a suggestion to “Pass on kindness.” There’s no time like the present to Inspire Those Who Inspire You. Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can have a direct, positive impact on someone else. Go out there today and change someone’s life for the better!
***These are my personal opinions and may not be those of my employer.***
