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.

Imagine a place where the Earth hisses, belches sulfur, and constantly exhales white plumes of steam into the sky. A place where black eggs are boiled in volcanic springs and eaten to gain extra years of life. Welcome to Owakudani—one of Japan’s most unusual and naturally hostile locations, and one that feels like it sits right at the edge of the spirit world.