Travel

Muan South Korea

“Not Seoul,” “onion farmers,” “rural,” and high pitch cackles are what I hear every time I say where I live and work in South Korea. People who live where I live are looked down upon by the rest of the country, infuriating them as it should. Yes, most of Muan-gun (county) is what I considerContinue reading “Muan South Korea”

What About North Korea?

For the third part of my ‘Is Korea Safe?’ series, I will to address the elephant in the room. ( Read Part I and Part II here). If you have not been paying attention, there is an ongoing war between North and South Korea. It is easy to forget that the armistice that has existedContinue reading “What About North Korea?”

10 Vietnam Travel Tips

1. Learn How to Ride a Motorcycle Vietnam has very poor public transportation in major cities, but outside of the major cities catching a grab or taxi can be difficult and expensive. On my solo trip, I found getting places without signing up for a tour challenging. Then, adding in heat and humidity made itContinue reading “10 Vietnam Travel Tips”

Seonamsa Temple

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Seonamsa Temple, home to the Korean Jogyesan Buddhist order, is tucked into the mountains a 45min rural bus ride away from Suncheon in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. This place has been on my Korean bucket list since I knew I was moving to Jeollanamdo, but in my year and a halfContinue reading “Seonamsa Temple”

Is Korea Safe? Part 2

When I wrote the first part of this blog, I talked about domestic violence, police negligence, and other less publicized or hidden safety issues when traveling to Korea. I also spoke about how everyone’s experiences differ, and a more nuanced approach needs to be taken when we decide how safe a city or country is.Continue reading “Is Korea Safe? Part 2”

Ha Long Bay

What you see on social media is true; the bay is a beautiful feat of nature. Large mountainous rocks jutting from the ocean have made this landscape a must-see for tourists and locals alike, but what no one tells you about this UNESCO site: the bay is overcrowded and full of trash. Surprised? So areContinue reading “Ha Long Bay”

Ninh Binh

“Ha Long bay on land’ Ninh Binh lands scape is otherworldly, with large round mountains jetting out of farm fields. Ninh Binh, including Trang An and Tam Coc is an absolute paradise, but don’t let vloggers deceive you by saying off the beaten path Ninh Binh is definitely touristy and quite busy despite being mostlyContinue reading “Ninh Binh”

Cham Island

This island off the coast of Da Nang and Hoi An is for those who love remote, off-the-beaten-path getaways. Cham Island might be the perfect two-day stop for a traveler looking for a beach stay with nothing to do but a short bike ride around the island, snorkeling, and eating fresh fish. I had pre-bookedContinue reading “Cham Island”

My Son Sanctuary

Does this remind you of someplace? You would be correct if you said it reminded you of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Angkor Wat and My Son were built by the Cham people, whos vast empire, around the 4nd-13th century, once expanded the other parts of modern-day Cambodia and Vietnam. My Son Sanctuary is over anContinue reading “My Son Sanctuary”

Hai Van Pass

Riding a motorcycle through the Hai Van Pass is hands down one of my favorite things I did while in Vietnam. The route takes you from Hue to Hoi An, with several diffrent sights to see along the way including temples, lagoons, hot springs, and moutain tops. I booked my ride through Style Motorbikes, whereContinue reading “Hai Van Pass”