Preah Ko is a profoundly significant temple that often gets overshadowed by the grandeur of Angkor Wat and Bayon. Preah Ko, which translates to “Sacred Bull,” was the very first temple built in the ancient city of Hariharalaya, located in present-day Roluos, 15 kilometres southeast of Siem Reap. This temple predates Angkor Wat by over two centuries and is key to understanding the architectural and spiritual foundation of the Khmer empire.

Leaning against the Chau Chu Mountain in the outskirts of Hue, this elaborately designed, hillside tomb has elements of Vietnamese and European architectural styles. Featuring blackened concrete, the Gothic inspired monument casts a striking silhouette against the verdant green countryside. While comparatively smaller than other Royal tombs, the building itself is far more elaborately designed than others of its era.

With over 200,000 tombstones snaking through nearly two kilometre’s of the sacred Wakayama mountain forest, the Okunoin cemetery is the epicentre of ancient Shingon Buddhism and the mausoleum site for one of the most revered men in the religious history of Japan. Tucked away in the shadowy heart of Mount Kōya, Japan’s holiest mountain, Okunoin isn’t just Japan’s largest cemetery it’s a spiritual artery that pulses with esoteric energy, ancient Buddhist tradition and a deeply