If you don’t die of thirst, there are blessings in the desert. You can be pulled into limitlessness, which we all yearn for, or you can do the beauty of minutiae, the scrimshaw of tiny and precise. The sky is your ocean, and the crystal silence will uplift you like great gospel music, or Neil …
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Five Things to Do in Bohol
For my second trip to the Philippines, I was torn between two destinations: Palawan or Bohol. I’d heard great things about both, but elected to go with Bohol. I’d been told the diving was fantastic, and there seemed to be a variety of things to do around the island — perfect for the Philippines vacation …
Nine Things to See in Yazd
The city of Yazd: nearly as ancient as the desert which surrounds it, rich and timeless. There is a great deal to do there; here are some recommendations of things to see in Yazd! Masjed-e Jameh Yazd’s main mosque is visible from all over the Old City–provided one can get a view of the sky …
Sunset in Khiva
The sun was setting on my first full day in Khiva, and I was sitting on a ledge watching it sink behind a horizon punctuated by minarets and mosques. The day had been a full one, wandering through the Ichon-Qala fortress which encompasses most of the remaining Old Town. Now, merely sitting and watching the …
Danger in No Man’s Land
Setting out from the Kyrgyz border post at Bor Dobo, I had a decent idea of the distance (15+ km) between me and the Tajik border. I assumed that I would be able to catch a ride, but figured I could hike the difference if none came along. From the start, the scenery was stunning. After …
The Sleeping Mountain at Seoraksan
My friend Cody and I arrived in Sokcho around 2 p.m. on Saturday. Both of us were tired from the long bus ride, but we set our fatigue aside to venture into the stunning Seoraksan National Park (설악산국립공원); Korea’s first national park. After dropping our bags off at our hostel, we caught a bus and …
Five Things to Do in Kyoto
Beautiful Kyoto is the city most people familiar with Japan will recommend to the first time visitor. Having been the former capital of Japan for a span of over 1000 years and being spared the devastation of bombing raids in WWII, Kyoto is one of the cities in Japan where a wealth of historical architecture …
Rambling the Nakasendo
“If one walks, a road is made.” So reads the cover of the walking map for the Nakasendo I brought back with me from Japan–a sentiment which perfectly encapsulates the origins and spirit of the Nakasendo. An ancient postal road connecting Kyoto (Kyo) and Tokyo (Edo), the Nakasendo was built over 400 years ago in the Edo period. …
Chocolate and Executions: Valentine’s Day in Korea
Many people have dubbed South Korea as one of the most romantic countries in the world. Taking ‘romantic holidays’ to the next level, many amorous young Koreans celebrate an unofficial ‘love’ holiday on the 14th of every month of the year. For an excellent write-up on what those holidays are, as well as the traditions …
Daewonsa: The Dragon Temple
This week’s post will be short and sweet. Along with my friends Grant and Tammy, I rode up my favorite coastal road to see a hidden Pohang jewel known as Daewonsa (대원사)–or the Dragon Temple. When Grant pitched the idea for the ride to me, I assumed it was a long distance away. “Dragon Temple? …