9. Some Folk Just Want to Hang Around
In Sagada, Philippines, the journey to pay respects to the departed takes an upward gaze, not the usual six feet under. Here, the age-old tradition is to nestle the dead in coffins high on cliff faces, creating an astonishing aerial cemetery.
This ritual, stretching back thousands of years, involves a unique, personal touch: individuals carve their own coffins, ensuring their final resting place is as individual as their life. Hoisted aloft to join their ancestors, these cliffside coffins, some centuries old, paint a diverse tapestry of final farewells.