Crazy about Kimchi
For the Love of Kimchi Sure the pay was decent, and the working conditions acceptable, but I have to admit, food was a major factor in my deciding to get take a short-term teaching contract […]
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Photo from the Road: Jeonju Architecture
Jeonju is a traditional city with a strong culture. It is also one of the best cities in South Korea to see preserved architecture in the form of historical monuments and houses. I took a
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The Independent Spirit of Gwangju
By Stephen Bugno Far outside the suburbs of Gwangju, in southwestern Korea, is the May 18th National Cemetery. Visiting is a moving experience—sad, beautiful, inspirational. In May of 1980 demonstrators of the democratic uprising were
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Photo from the Road: Jeju’s Lava Tubes
South Korea’s Jeju Island is known for having some of the best examples of lava tubes anywhere in the world. On nearly my last day in Jeju, after teaching English at a winter camp for
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The Hills of Jeju
By Stephen Bugno “Don’t worry about Halla-san.” Says Jonghyun, referring to the massive volcano that dominates the center of the Jeju Island off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula. “Instead focus on the 368
Climbing Halla-san
By Stephen Bugno As my South Korea Moon Handbook points out, Halla-San, or Halla Mountain, is the island of Jeju-do. It is South Korea’s highest peak and rises tall out of the center of the
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My Korean Lunar New Year
On the morning of the Korean Lunar New Year, Eun Taek picks me up in his white Hyundai SUV. His parents are sitting in the back seat and we are on the way to his
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No Beggars, No Thieves
By Stephen Bugno Korea’s Jeju Island is known for what it has and for what it lacks. It is called Samdado, meaning “Island of Three Abundances” due to its strong wind, sufficient supply of rocks,
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Photos from a Korean Village
Buckchon-ri, Jeju Island, South Korea I wanted to give everyone an idea of what a small village is like on Jeju Island. This is where the English Camp I’m working at is located. Everyday at
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English Camp in Korea: What it’s like
What I actually found when I arrived The representatives from camp never came to the Jeju airport to pick me up. In the waiting room of the small airport, I sat for an hour
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Photo from the Road: Citrus Farms of Jeju Island
The Citrus Farms of Jeju Island The tangerine was introduced to Jeju Island of Korea during the Japanese occupation and grows well, together with native Jeju citrus fruit varieties and hybrids, in the rich volcanic
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2010 in Review: How I traveled for half the year
Work and travel as a lifestyle A former coworker of mine and up-and-coming musician recently asked me how I do it. How did I work the same hours at a slightly-more-than-minimum-wage job at a Virginia
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Why I’m going to South Korea
January is almost here and that means winter holidays for Korean school kids. That means English teaching jobs for native English speakers! And what are supposed to be holidays from school are actually intensive English
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Sipping Coffee at the Source: La Zona Cafetera, Colombia
Don Elias’ nephew, Jose, looks to be about twenty. He’s short. He has curly black hair and wears a cutoff tee-shirt, worn jeans, and black rubber boots. A woven basket is strapped around his waist—a
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Salento, Colombia: The Quintessential Backpacker Village
Salento is not the type of place where you’re going to be the only Gringo in town. Don’t try and fool yourself, it is a touristy place. But it’s popular for a reason. And even
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Botero in the Museo de Antioquia in Medellin
Botero back by Popular demand This second round of Botero on Bohemian Traveler (see the first round of Botero sculptures) features his works, mostly paintings, which are located inside the Museo de Antioquia in Medellin.
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Colombian Colonial Towns: Villa de Leiva
By Stephen Bugno My love of Colombian colonial towns continues. After Barichara and Guane, I took the bus to Villa de Leiva (also spelled Leyva). Villa de Leiva is beautiful and there aren’t many who would contest
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Colombian Colonial Towns: Barichara and Guane
Barichara has been called the most beautiful town in Colombia, and it’s really hard to argue that claim. It is gorgeous. Beautiful wide flat stone streets afford views of farms and ranches on the
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Adventure Sports in San Gil, Colombia
By Stephen Bugno I had intended on blowing right past Sal Gil on my way to some colonial villages to the north of Bogota. But I’m so glad I did not. San Gil has emerged
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Photo from the Road: Fruit Vendor at the Market, Colombia
I snapped this photo at the market in San Gil, Colombia. San Gil has recently emerged as the adventure sports hub of Colombia, but it is a fine small city to visit on its own.
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Colombian Colonial Towns: Giron
By Stephen Bugno I’m sitting on the balcony of my small hotel room in Giron and it’s raining again. It’s rained almost every day I’ve been in Colombia, about 3 ½ weeks straight. The sky
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Visiting Tayrona National Park, Colombia
Tayrona National Park, Colombia. The guidebooks hype this place as what we should expect from a tropical paradise: “Thick jungle teeming with wildlife spilling over onto golden sand beaches with pounding surf.” And for
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Is this art?
I found this stencil graffiti just outside of Cartegena University. The graffiti artist poses an interesting question. Is the graffiti around this stencil art or not? Which graffiti is street art and which is just
Cartagena: Living up to Expectations or Not?
By Stephen Bugno When a city has the reputation that Cartagena has, it takes a few days to absorb the city to see if it lives up to its hype. So I spent the first
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