I recently posted an entry about one of many mountains in and around Seoul: Namsan. Today’s entry is about the second mountain Brandon and I hiked that weekend: a mountain by the name of Bugaksan (북악산). The area around Bugaksan was only recently opened for the the public’s enjoyment. Until 2006, it had been a military …
great view
Seoul: the City of Mountains (Part 1 of 2)
When I mention Seoul, what is it you think of? The city with the largest population in the world? A sprawl of skyscrapers, high-rises, and other buildings stretching as far as the eye can see? A place of neon lights, dimly lit soju-bangs, and bustling markets? It is all of these things, but there is …
The Beauty of Being Still
Sometimes, the best thing to do is to be still–even if only for a moment. The first flakes of snow fell yesterday, as I soaked in an outdoor spa in Gyeongju. Cries of delight rose with the cloud of steam and we all enjoyed the stinging chill of snowflakes on our skin. The snow continued …
Apples, Ponds, and the Colors of Fall: A Ride to Cheongsong
Yesterday, a group of friends and I decided to go on a ride. Our fearless leader, Adrian, came up with our route. We would start by winding up the rocky coast of the Sea of Japan just north of Pohang, then head inland through the mountains and end in Juwangsan (주왕산) National Park in Cheongsong …
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Gobi Tour: Part One
This may have been the most difficult entry for me to write, not because of the subject, but because of the environment I’m writing in. I am back home in Washington state, my travels (for now) ceased. There’s something about being back home that seems to suck the inspiration away, the desire to reminisce about …
Terkhiin Tsaagan Nuur National Park
As you may have read in the previous two posts, I rode a motorcycle from the city of Tsetserleg to the small town of Tariat to check out the Terkhiin Tsaagan Nuur National Park. I had planned to camp for several nights, but ended up staying at the Khorgo Ger Camp with the super nice …
The Open Road Before Me: Motorcycle Trip from Tsetserleg to Tariat
As I’ve mentioned many times, my initial desire to visit Mongolia was kindled by a childhood friend of mine moving here for several years. Several years ago, that desire was further fueled after I watched the awesome miniseries ‘Long Way Round‘ starring Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman. The two actors, also close friends, embarked on …
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The Wild Horses of Hustai
At last, another travel post! Thanks for sticking with me for the fundraising and volunteering; it was a welcome change of pace, but I’m happy to be back exploring. This time, I left the sprawling, somewhat bland cityscape of UB behind and traded it for the sprawling hills and wild horses of Hustai National Park. …
Living with Nomads in Terelj National Park
The past week has been many things for me. Through an organization called Ger to Ger – an eco-travel agency based out of Ulaanbaatar that focuses on interacting and living with local nomads – I booked a 7 day, 6 night tour through the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. During the course of the week I was …
A Day on Inle Lake
Inle Lake is one of the biggest draws for tourists in Myanmar. It’s a massive freshwater lake set in the hills of Shan State in Eastern Myanmar. Shallow (no more than 12 feet deep in the dry season) and with refreshingly clear water, it was a welcome change from the filthy rivers and irrigation ditches …