The Good The Places The Philippines has some incredible destinations. I’ll start with the phenomenal rice terraces of Banaue and Batad, high in the Cordillara Mountains of Luzon. For three days, I trekked among what […]
The Philippines: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Read More »
After roughing it through long, sweaty bus rides and too many nights in grimy hotels, it was a relief to finally arrive on Bantayan Island. Situated in between Negros and Cebu Island of the Philippines,
Photos from the Road: Bantayan Island Beach and Ocean Read More »
Sagada comes as a welcome relief to the traveler in the Philippines. Located high in the central Cordilleras Mountains of northern Luzon, it has a distinct history as well. Reachable by bus from Manila in
A Walk around Sagada Philippines Read More »
Naoshima Island is one of the most interesting art projects I’ve come across during my travels. Since 1989, the small island, located in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, has slowly been transformed into a series
Photos from the Road: Art Installations on Naoshima Island Japan Read More »
While traveling in Japan, I wanted to report on some of the alternative accommodation types. From Fukuoka, I already wrote about sleeping in a capsule hotel. That was a unique, first-time experience for me. So
Experimental Accommodation in Japan: Sleeping at an Internet Café Read More »
There are onsen for everybody in Beppu: mud baths, sand baths, and the typical mineral water baths. Onsen is the Japanese word for hot springs. Normally bathing facilities are built around the water source, or
Finding the Hidden Onsen of Beppu Japan Read More »
My trip to Japan was loosely planned around onsen. Onsen is the Japanese term for hot springs. Only on rare occasions are these hot springs in a natural setting. More commonly, a bath has been
Photos from the Road: The Mineral Baths of Kurokawa Onsen Read More »
I thought it was going to be a one-time post when I wrote about my first day in Vietnam last year. But after thinking it over, I determined it’s a useful column. I don’t have
First Day in a New Country (Japan): Here’s What I Do Read More »
Stopping in Kumamoto was a last-minute decision for me. It turned out to be a good one. The city was on the way from Fukuoka to Aso Caldera. I read about a few worthy
Photos from the Road: Kumamoto Castle and Hosokawa House Read More »
On the day I arrived in Japan, all the hostels in Fukuoka were booked solid. It was a Korean holiday, and the international ferry to Fukuoka is a popular jaunt for Busaners. I knew I’d
My Capsule Hotel in Japan Experience Read More »
For most of us, ramen is a plastic package of dried noodles and powder flavoring. For fancy ramen, we might imagine a styrofoam bowl filled with the same dried noodles and maybe even some dried
Fukuoka Japan: Where Ramen is a Real Meal Read More »
There is only one proper way to get to an island. I always feel like I’m cheating myself if I fly. To get to Japan, I knew I had to take the ferry. “But flights
On Sailing to Japan Read More »
1) The existence of kimchi-specific refrigerators You’ve heard of kimchi, but did you know Koreans have special refrigerators in their kitchens with individualized temperature control for making different types of kimchi? I can’t even begin
7 Observations from Korea Read More »
I have a habit of finding saunas and thermal waters in different places around the world. Most of all I like being warm, but also I’ve found it’s a great way into a culture. Normally
Jjimjilbang: The Real Korean Sauna and Bathhouse Experience Read More »
It’s cold in Seoul in the winter. And I’m not a fan of the low temperatures. But from time to time I do appreciate seeing different places in the different seasons. I had been
Gyeongbokgung Palace in Winter: A different Perspective [Photos] Read More »
Two months ago, I thought I might be in South Africa during February. As it turned out, I was invited to Korea to spend the Lunar New Year holiday. It is one of the two
Korean Lunar New Year in Seoul Read More »
Naples is authentic. I think that word might get thrown around too much these days without meaning. Where other city’s historic cores have been taken over by souvenir shops, tourist restaurants, and designer brand shopping,
The Naples That I Saw [Photos] Read More »
A Walk around Orvieto Italy Orvieto is Umbria’s imposing hill town. You won’t notice much, pulling in on the train. The city is perched a thousand feet up on a piece of volcanic tuff rock.
A Walk around Orvieto Italy [Photos] Read More »
Beauty in Italy “Everything in Italy is beautiful…on the surface.” The film presents to us at the start. It’s true. This country exudes beauty: from the Roman frescos preserved in Herculaneum to the natural beauty
Italy: Love it or leave it Review Read More »
Nikiszowiec Historic Working-class Housing Nikiszowiec Katowice Poland Nikiszowiec was built as housing for miners between the years 1908 to 1919. It’s a district in the city of Katowice, in Silesia, in the southwest of Poland.
Nikiszowiec Historic Working-class Housing Read More »
“We’re all related, but we’re not inbred.” Gunnar told us as he drove the van back towards Reykjavik after a full day of touring South Iceland. It was one of the many quotes and
South Iceland in Photos Read More »
You can’t see the Northern Lights from Reykjavik. On the rare occasion that you can, you need to view them from a particular spot when they are particularly active. But it’s not like seeing them
My Amateur Attempt to Photograph the Northern Lights in Iceland Read More »
A Walking Food Tour of Rome If the first thing we think about Rome is ancient ruins of the former Roman civilization, the second is food. Italy has a love affair with food like no
Warning: the following is a guest post by a Renaissance pigeon. All opinions expressed are his own and not Bohemian Traveler’s. The true story of why they moved Michelangelo’s David inside I want to tell
Michelangelo’s David according to a Renaissance Pigeon Read More »
