The End of Jaeun-do

This month, we’ll trek to the extreme western edge of Jaeun-do, another of Sinan-gun’s many superb but under-visited islands. Jaeun-do has at least a half dozen sites and experiences of note I could talk about: the large, abandoned school complex that haunts the landscape, what Mariposa Resort was like back when I found it a burned-out derelict, the excellent hike to the peak of Dubong-san, dodging bats at the island’s decommissioned military site, discovering one-of-a-kind temple ruins amid a forest of bamboo, and two vast beaches that merge into an epic promontory scarcely anyone visits. For this article, we’ll focus just on the temple ruins and beach promontory.

Odds and (Dead) Ends: Embracing Lowered Expectations

The long, sandy shore along the northwest coast of Imja-do recently stunned me when I discovered that, even at low tide, the beaches had excellent sand as far as the eye could see.

From Seaside to Mountainside – Sokcho and Seoraksan

Located in the northeastern part of Gangwon Province, Sokcho is so far north that it was briefly under the control of North Korea after World War II , before finally changing hands following the Korean Armistice Agreement. These days, it is a popular getaway for those wanting to swap the stifling, summer streets of Seoul for the cool sea breeze of the coast.

Travel Blog: Touring the Heart of Europe

I would first like to introduce you to my hometown of Grimbergen. Grimbergen is a municipality in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, 10 kilometers north of the capital, Brussels. Grimbergen is the brand name of a variety of Belgian abbey beers. Originally made by Norbertine monks in the Belgian town of Grimbergen, it is now brewed by different breweries in Belgium, France, Poland, and Italy, and is even imported to Korea.

Don’t Read This Article: It’s About Geogeum-do

There’s an island in Jeollanam-do, just off the southwest coast of Goheung, that I love so much I almost bought a second home there despite not having a first.

Odds and (Dead) Ends: Four Years of Getting Lost

My involvement with the “Lost” column began this month back in 2018, and as much as I’d like to have a single, significant topic to cover, this fourth anniversary has fallen during a creative slump. As per tradition, whenever this happens, I’m left to cobble together a few half-baked ideas with little rhyme or reason to them. And so, here it is – an underwhelming medley of odds and (dead) ends that have been crowding my workspace these past few months.

Doing What We Can to Care for the Environment

Written by Michael Goonan. Climate change. A hole in the ozone layer. Mountains of plastic in our oceans. Acid rain. Microplastics. If you take an interest in environmental issues, you’ve … Read More

Guam! Guam! Guam!

The final sunset of 2019