Dating back to the 9th century, Lumbung Temple rises quietly from the green fields of Central Java, a compact Buddhist sanctuary often overshadowed by the dramatic silhouette of the Hindu towers within the nearby Prambanan Temple complex. Built from dark volcanic andesite, its weathered shrines have endured centuries of monsoonal rain, seismic unrest and drifting ash from Mount Merapi, its origins all but erased by the scars of time.

Consumed by jungle and time, very little is known about this temple ruin but it is believed this stone monument was once an ancient hermitage, a meditation retreat for elite monks or a sanctuary for sacred manuscripts. Located near the northwest corner of the holy reservoir of East Baray, deep inside the Angkor Archaeological Park, it was designed and constructed by King Jayavarman VII during the late 12th century.

Hidden beneath the dramatic limestone cliffs of Guilin’s Seven Stars Park lies a sprawling karst cave system, veiled in myth and mystery. Named after the seven towering peaks that crown the landscape, said to mirror the celestial pattern of the Big Dipper, this subterranean realm has captivated explorers and spiritual seekers for a millennia.