Postcards: Seoul’s beach train
April 1, 2012 It was 5 AM. Bleary-eyed, exhausted and still drunk, I placed one foot into the subway car at Hongdae station and paused. I quickly retracted my foot from the train, like a cat after accidentally placing its paw in a puddle of water on the bathroom floor. I thought that the floor...
Holy… Jesus boats!
It’s no surprise that Catholicism has seeped into Filipino culture since the beginning of Spanish colonization, but–I wasn’t quite expecting every mode of transportation– from taxis to tricycles to jeepneys to boats– to bear scripture, prayers, and bold names like “Holy Infant I, II, III and IX.” Taken off the coast of Alona Beach on...
Namhae Island: sea kayaking, fishing and coasteering
The warm summer days are dwindling in Korea, so this past weekend I ventured to Namhae, a rural island located five hours south of Seoul, in South Gyeongsang province. Again, I traveled with Adventure Korea, an established budget travel company who generously sponsored my trip. Due to little development on the island, Namhae is purely a fishing and...
Surfing in Korea
Have you ever been surfing in Korea? Neither had I, until I joined a surfing trip with the Korean budget travel company Adventure Korea, who again, generously sponsored my trip. It’s only possible to surf at a few beaches in Korea, this one being the Blue Coast, located in Yangyang, Gangwon province. The gentle waves...
Biking, Hiking, and Swimming on Seonyu Island
Seonyudo (Seonyu Island) is a small South Korean island located off the western coast of North Jeolla Province, populated by a handful of local residents, fishermen, and summer tourists. It’s an ideal summer getaway from the city smog and heat radiating off Seoul’s massive buildings and concrete sidewalks. Instead, the island is known for beautiful,...
Life on an island: Long Island, Maine
My aunt bought a cottage on Long island, Maine in 1987, the same year I was born. Every summer, I’ve spent at least one weekend on this quaint island, a mere 1.4 square miles in land area, located in Casco Bay. Like any island, time tends to stand still here. I’ve continually felt a sense...
Hiking the Jagged Ridge Trail on Saryang Island
Last weekend, I joined a Meetup group to hike the Jagged Ridge Trail on Saryang-do, two tiny islands located in South Gyeongsang Province. I had never been to this province before, and the inexpensive price (50,000 won) and itinerary sounded excellent. Also, the weather has been gorgeous this spring, and I had been wanting to...
Photo Essay: Skipping Stones on YoungJong island
Children’s Day is a Korean holiday that’s celebrated every year on May 5th. This year, I ventured to Nami Island on my day off, but three years ago I was on Yeongjong Island, located next to Incheon. It’s interesting how journeys often begin where they once ended. These photographs depict that beautiful day three...
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