In the shadowy early hours of the morning, while most of the world is still wrapped in dreams, there exists a place in East Java where fire glows an electric blue, sulfur dances in the air, and the earth itself seems to breathe. Welcome to Kawah Ijen, one of the few places on this planet where you can literally chase fire in the dark—and not get burned.

Deep within the lush rainforests of Central Kalimantan, the Dayak Ngaju people practice one of Indonesia's most sacred and mesmerizing ceremonies — the Tiwah. More than a funeral rite, the Tiwah is a powerful spiritual passage, a final act of love and duty performed by the living for the departed. In the eyes of the Dayak Ngaju, death is not the end; it is a long journey toward a better, eternal village in the spirit world, known as Lewu Tatau.

You don’t need a passport stamp from Scandinavia to find yourself in a majestic fjord-like valley. Just head deep into the highlands of West Sumatra, and you’ll stumble upon a surreal pocket of earth called Harau Valley—where sheer granite cliffs tower over emerald rice fields, waterfalls tumble like silver ribbons, and mist hugs the treetops like it’s never known anything else.

If you think you’ve seen all that Bali has to offer—surf beaches, hip cafés, infinity pools overlooking rice terraces—think again.

On the eastern shores of Lake Batur lies a village that defies logic, science, and perhaps even death itself. Welcome to Desa Trunyan, a place where the dead are not buried, not cremated—but left in the open air. And strangely? There’s no smell.

From the outside, it might look like a jumble of random boulders scattered across a hill—but step a little closer and you’ll find yourself walking through an ancient, rocky time capsule. Welcome to Stone Garden in Padalarang, West Java—a surreal limestone landscape perched high above the city, right beside the mysterious Goa Pawon, a cave that once housed prehistoric humans.

In the dense jungles and river basins of South Kalimantan, a profound tradition takes place—one that invites the realm of the spirits to guide human decisions. The Manajah Antang ritual, practiced by the Dayak people, is a sacred ceremony in which a spiritual bird called the Antang is summoned to offer signs and direction from the unseen world. Whether to declare war, select a leader, or prepare for a journey, the Dayak turn to the Antang for divine confirmation.

If you’re a fan of eerie, cinematic atmospheres with a hint of mystery—but still want to soak in nature’s raw beauty—then the Eucalyptus Pine Forest in the Dieng Plateau deserves a spot on your travel bucket list. This isn't just another forest. It's a haunting blend of serenity and spookiness, wrapped in fog and silence.

Deep in the heart of East Kalimantan, along the mighty Mahakam River, the Dayak Bahau people perform an ancestral ritual that merges the eerie with the divine. Known as the Hudoq Dance, this centuries-old performance embodies a prayer for abundant crops, protection from pests, and a harmonious link with the spirit world. Through elaborate wooden masks and trembling leaves that flutter with every movement, the dance tells a story of survival, spiritual belief, and indigenous identity.

From above, Pulau Bungin resembles a jigsaw puzzle of rooftops tightly packed into the sea. No trees. No open fields. Just houses—hundreds of them—squeezed together so tightly that even alleyways feel like afterthoughts. Welcome to one of the most densely populated islands in the world, hiding quietly in the lesser-traveled waters of Indonesia.

If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming with jellyfish without turning into a human pincushion, your fantasy is not only possible—it’s floating in the heart of Indonesia.