Papua New Guinea

Why it sticks

1. 1

   With about 840 living languages, it is the most linguistically diverse country on Earth.

2. 2

   It occupies the eastern half of New Guinea, the second-largest island in the world. The western half belongs to Indonesia.

3. 3

   Outsiders did not reach the densely populated Highlands until the 1930s, when explorers found about a million people unknown to the outside world.

4. 4

   Its flag shows a golden bird-of-paradise and the Southern Cross.

• No official car coverage: mostly user photospheres.
• Drives on the left. Signs are in English and Tok Pisin (for example "Haus Sik" for hospital).
• Steep, cloud-covered rainforest mountains and red-stained pavements from betel-nut chewing.