Instagram as a visual diary
Seoul, South Korea: Buddha’s Birthday lanterns. Love it or hate it, call it photography or not, there’s something romantic about Instagram. Captured spur of the moment with a smartphone, these digitally-enhanced, square-formatted images are both visually appealing and a great tool for documentation. For about a year, I’ve been uploading photos on Instagram, and in some...
Biking around Upo Wetland, strawberry picking, and experiencing my own funeral
Last Saturday, I embarked on a weekend trip to the southeast province of Gyeongsangnam-do to bike around a famous wetland, mingle with other travelers and teachers, pick fresh strawberries and visit a festival celebrating the Daegaya Kingdom. Once again, I traveled with Adventure Korea, a well-established tour company catered to foreigners and travelers in Korea....
Notes on backpacking through Thailand
I’ve been traveling on my own since I was 17. I lived with a host family in Italy the summer after my third year of high school, and before I started college, I saved money by waiting tables and scooping ice cream at my part-time job to study Spanish in Peru. However, I didn’t embark...
![A traditional Taiwanese market in Taichung [pics]](http://www.mappingwords.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/market1-290x290.jpg "A traditional Taiwanese market in Taichung [pics]")
A traditional Taiwanese market in Taichung [pics]
I stayed with my friend Olivia and her family for five days in Taichung. One day, Olivia, her mom, and I strolled through a traditional market, where her mom would buy some ingredients for dinner. I love visiting markets and grocery stores throughout the world, because I am constantly intrigued by varying atmospheres and types...
Skipping along Daxi Old Street
Okay, I didn’t really skip–since my backpack, seemingly filled with bricks, was weighing me down, but my friend Alicia and I did stroll along the street. A few weeks ago, on spur of the moment, I booked a flight to Taiwan, taking advantage of some free time between ending my job and relocating to a...
a portrait of Jangheung Harbor
New Year’s Day: Our bus rolled into Jangheung Harbor, signifying an end to four days on Jeju Island and a beginning to 2013. From the bus window, I glimpsed vividly colored, industrial shipping crates, arranged in rows along the edge of the harbor. They struck me as the perfect representation of a Korean island. With...
By day: street art and steel factories in Mullae
A few weeks ago, I visited Mullae, “the art village of Seoul,” located on the Western side of the city in Youngdeungpo-gu. I shot some photos of the neighborhood at night, documenting the small metal and steel factories, narrow alleyways and street art illuminated by the dim glow of street lights. As I mentioned in...
Travel Illusions: How important are famous landmarks on our travels?
You’re in New York. After waiting in a security line for a half an hour at Battery Park, you’re finally sitting on the ferry sans explosives. You had to fight for a hard metal seat on the top deck, beating a middle-aged woman wearing a floral visor, casting a shadow over her rosy cheeks.You just...
2012 In Photos: the year that I never fully unpacked
Last year I summarized my travels through a photo essay called, 2011 In Photos: a year of transition and travel, so I decided to do the same for 2012. This year, thanks to my three extensive vacations and a slew of Adventure Korea-sponsored weekend trips, I never fully unpacked, continually leaving items throughout various backpacks...
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