If Banff is the crown jewel of the Canadian Rockies, then Jasper is its wild and unpredictable sibling — rugged, raw, and impossibly beautiful. Tucked away further north in Alberta, Jasper National Park feels like a secret you stumble upon rather than a destination you planned. It's the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, yet somehow less crowded, more mysterious, and deeply immersive.
As the sun sets on November 2nd in the quiet borough of San Andrés Mixquic, the local cemetery begins to glow. Hundreds of candles flicker to life. Marigold petals form glowing pathways. The air is thick with the scent of copal incense and tamales. But this is no ordinary cemetery visit — this is a sleepover with the dead.
Deep within the forests of Tochigi Prefecture lies a place where myth and mystery echo through sacred halls. At first glance, Nikkō Tōshō-gū looks like any other stunning Shinto-Buddhist shrine—gilded, intricate, layered with centuries of craftsmanship. But step inside the Yakushi-dō Hall, look up, and clap your hands just once. The dragon will respond.