Imagine a crescent of golden dunes and red cliffs floating in the middle of the sea, kissed constantly by wind and waves. Welcome to the Magdalen Islands, or Îles de la Madeleine, Quebec’s quiet masterpiece hidden deep in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Imagine a cathedral-sized wooden structure rising like a mythical ark on the shores of Pattaya. Now imagine every inch of that building covered in hand-carved deities, demons, dancers, dragons, and celestial beings — not just for show, but to represent deep philosophical truths about life, the universe, and everything in between.