Every time I plan my next Vietnam itinerary, it’s around the same thing: FOOD. And because my best friend is from Saigon, on my trips I also inevitably get to sample foods and ingredients I might have have otherwise thought of, like street porridge or avocado ice cream. On my last trip to Vietnam in … Read more
Controversial opinion alert: Koreans don’t speak English well, for all of the time they spend on it. Learning a new language is a mind game, but that means it comes down to acquisition ability and motivation, each complicated in their own right. But I’ve had this post half-written for years, since shortly after I moved … Read more
This is the guide to Asia massages that I’d always looked for online before visiting a new country, but never found. It might sound random, but whilst traveling I’ve always wanted to know if I could even find massages in my next destination, as I’m hunched over a computer for most of every day. But … Read more
After 3+ years living in rural South Korea, I’ve picked up lots of tips for learning Korean quickly, mostly from needing to understand my coworkers. Having moved abroad without even being literate in Korean, I cannot understate how intimidating it can be to try and navigate a new life in Korea without knowing Korean. Unless … Read more
Spending 7 days in Taiwan is perfect for seeing the country’s varied landscapes, sampling local dishes, and getting a handle on the island’s complex history. While most people start & end their visit in Taipei, I’d actually recommend getting off the beaten path and skipping Taipei entirely. If I hadn’t planned my first Taiwan itinerary … Read more
Last week my travel school students, whom I had not seen in three weeks, took me hiking, even though I showed up to their school in my usual work skirt and pantyhose. It may be more accurate to say that I was guilted into hiking by the other teachers, though, since low English level ten-year-olds … Read more
Life can be stunning. It’s what happens after you craft, and often change, your lofty itinerary. Bohol is a beautiful island, the highlight of my many weeks in the Philippines, and I was stunned to find what you can pack into a single day. There are tiny primates, a bevy of bridges, and the beautiful … Read more
For my friends back home in the US, who seem to read about North Korea a lot these days, the DMZ (비무장지대) is the DeMilitarized Zone which forms a buffer along the border between North Korea & South Korea. None of it actually borders Seoul, but most of it is just a stone’s throw away. … Read more