South Korea has a national pension scheme where employers and employees each make a monthly contribution toward a pension fund, which is managed by the National Pension Service. Foreigners — depending on the agreement their government has worked out with South Korea — contribute as well, which makes for a nice little nest egg of …
Continents
Jukdo Market in Pohang
Before Pohang was a steel town, it was a fishing town. Its proximity to the fishing grounds of the East Sea makes it a perfect harbor for grizzled fishermen and their bounties. A huge variety of fish and shellfish are found in these waters, including the Pacific herring used to make gwamegi — a Pohang …
Hiking Sinbulsan in the Yeongnam Alps
Whenever I’m away from mountains, I feel their absence. For those drawn to them, they are irreplaceable in our souls. It’s not just their beauty that draws us, but also the challenge they represent. An anvil to strike ourselves against to see the strength of our mettle. It has been far too long since I …
How to Unwind in Pune
Pune is a city of many facets. Historically, it is the former seat of the Maratha Empire formed by Shivaji — a warrior-king from the 17th century. Academically, it is known as the ‘Oxford of the East’ due to the several well-respected educational institutions located there. These days, it’s a seat of power for the …
Motorcycle Ride to Okgye Valley
Sleipnir had languished, relegated to being a beast of labor and nothing more. Back and forth, the same old routes every week — work, work, work. The whole point of owning a motorcycle is the feeling of freedom that it brings, and I was only using mine as a commuter vehicle. So when my friends …
Five Things to Do in Hualien
Hualien is a smaller city of 100,000+ people on the east coast of Taiwan. Sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and Taroko National Park, it is a great base from which to explore some of the finest natural beauty Taiwan has to offer. That said, here are five things to do in Hualien! Drive Through Taroko …
Riding a Scooter from Taipei to Taroko and Back Again
It’s been an adventure-less summer. Breaking my leg at the end of April meant that I spent most of the season getting to the point where I could walk again. While I’m still not 100%, I am finally able to be active, so I was eagerly awaiting my trip to Taiwan to meet up with …
Riding a Scooter from Taipei to Taroko and Back AgainRead More
My Grandfather’s Coins
Travel is many things to many people. It is many things to me. But perhaps the thing I cherish most about travel is its ability to imbue meaning into other things. For memories of it to link to those of people and experiences, for it to entwine itself around the roots of who we are. …
Five Attractions in Svalbard You Shouldn’t Miss
Norway has long been on my list of dream destinations for a whole host of reasons — not least among them my distant family still living there. So when Agness and Cez came to me about writing a guest post recommending attractions in Svalbard, I was excited to see what they’d come up with. Read …
Temple Stay at Golgulsa
The monk’s bones appeared to melt, turning him into a rag doll instead of an actual person. He wrapped his legs into a pretzel and pushed himself onto his fingertips. The crowd hooted and hollered as they took photo after photo, enthralled by the spectacle. I was at Golgulsa (골굴사) for the weekend, and we were …