explore

The Temples of Hanoi

Hanoi has temples hidden across the city. Every neighborhood has one. Some are Buddhist or Daoist temples; others are Confucian temples or ancestral shrines built to honor famous Vietnamese heroes. To the average tourist without much experience in eastern religions, it can be hard to differentiate between Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian temples and some ancestralContinue reading “The Temples of Hanoi”

Mexico City Day 8 and 9 Reflections

After a very late night of drinking, I was pretty dead, so I decided to take it easy. I spent the first part of my day going through the parts of EL Museo Nacional de Antropología that I missed. I then walked around some cafes and book stores I had seen on Instagram and caughtContinue reading “Mexico City Day 8 and 9 Reflections”

Day 6 in Mexico City Teotihuacan and Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The next morning I woke up early to catch a Turibus, which was highly recommended by locals, to go to Teotihuacán and Basilica de Guadalupe. My friends I had met earlier in the week, Z and K, decided to hike the volcano nearby. I bought my ticket at the Zocalo and headed toward the ancientContinue reading “Day 6 in Mexico City Teotihuacan and Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe”

Day 5 In Mexico City Part 2 Soumaya

After a transforming but emotionally exhausting experience at El Museo de Memoria y Tolorencia earlier that morning, my friend K and I decided it was time for lunch. With the sky threatening to rain overhead, we stopped in a mall food court before we headed to the Soumaya Museum. The Soumaya Museum is a privateContinue reading “Day 5 In Mexico City Part 2 Soumaya”

Explore Busan

Busan, can you be redeemed? Unfortunately, my first trip to Busan 부산 left me with a sour taste in my mouth that I had yet to shake. I hope that by spending a few days here, my mind could be changed, and I could fall in love with the city. After an hour and aContinue reading “Explore Busan”

Gyeongju South Korea

Gyeongju 경주 was the stronghold of the Shilla 신라 Dynasty, one of the largest kingdoms in Korea; today, only relics and tombs remain of this kingdom that helped shape Korea. It may seem that there is not much to see in Gyeongju, but once you get there, your days will be full of picturesque scenery,Continue reading “Gyeongju South Korea”

Olle Market 올레 시장

My first memory of going to a market was the Dixie Flea Market in Waterford, Michigan. My grandparents, mom, dad, and brother dug through the antiques and purchased fresh vegetables from the farmers in the summers. I remember the chaos of people walking around, the stalls piled sky-high with junk and treasures, and I rememberContinue reading “Olle Market 올레 시장”

Beosong Green Tea Fields

Tucked away along the sothern coast of Jeollanam-do is Beosong 보성 the home to green tea which has ben deamed pure enough for an astronots diet by the Russians. Green tea has been grown in this area for thousands of years and is quite the sight to behold. The largest farm in the region, DeahanContinue reading “Beosong Green Tea Fields”