Christmas on the East side

I had been waiting for Christmas in such a desperate way this year, as it meant that I would be work free for an entire 9 days. At my school people begin planning there one week vacations months in advance. My only requirements for my destination were cheap and hot... warm would suffice.

So, by August I had already made my decision to go to the Philippines. At first I planned on going solo but once the word got out about my plan, two other friends asked to go.

My first stop in the Philippines was Boracay Island. Its famous for white sand beaches with crystal clear waters and for me a $23 a night hostel tucked away from the main road.

No, I hadn't seen the sun in 5 months!

The things I enjoyed most about the Philippines was its bit of innocence, in that it wasn't as heavily touristed as some of the places I've been on this side of the world. The people all spoke English well and were friendly and helpful. Like any developing country that I have been to, you need to be practical and realistic about the fact that people are there to benefit from your wallet, but that doesn't take away from the nature of how a culture is, and overall I found Filipinos to be laid back and welcoming everywhere we went.

After three days in Boracay my friend and I took a 1 hr. flight to Manila where we would join another friend and take an overnight bus 9 hours to the mountain town of Banaue (north Luzon provence). From Banaue we would take a three hour jeep ride on muddy mountain roads to get to the "saddle" of a small village called Batad (after the saddle we needed to hike another hour to reach our small hostel in the valley). This area of the Philippines is know for its mountainside rice terraces. Scientists have estimated that tribal people created these terraces 2000 years ago, and they are now listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.

The quiet and beauty of this place was unique. I would have liked to stay another day and just take in the terraces from the porch of my hostel and walk along the little pathways below. But I am so happy that I saw it at all. The first of many grateful moments on the trip.

Saying Goodbye to Batad on our morning hike out.

After Batad... we took another jeep several more hours to the town of Sagada. Sagada, an actual small mountain town is know for its limestone rock formations and caves. When I added this stop to the trip it was sort of an afterthought as my original plan to visit a place called Vigan proved to be too difficult and time consuming. So, we stepped into Sagada with no real plan or even a hotel. But within an hour of being there we had a "penthouse" room at the top of George Hotel and a four hour caving tour booked with local guide Jory.

Our guide prepares the one source of light that we will have for our four our caving tour. Apparently flip flops are also standard hiking equipment around here. My guide book even talked about this saying that local guides wear flip flops in the cave and to specifically NOT follow their lead. Should I always so stubbornly believe that if someone else can do it, then so can I?

Just inside the cave looking out. The entrance to the cave is lined with traditional tribal coffins. The tribal people of these regions believe that placing the coffins here puts the spirit closer to God.

About three hours into the "cave hike" we reach the famous rock formations. Here Jory has us scaling walls and slinking down crevices braced between rocks. Okay... so I felt pretty accomplished after some of these feats, if not just grateful to be in one piece.

We spend one more relaxed morning in Sagada and head back to Manila via Baguio along one of the most scenic mountain roads in the worlds.

Back in Manila we see some of the sites and older spanish colonial areas of town before heading to Rizal Park, were unbeknown to us we would be celebrating New Year's Day with every other family in Manila. But it was worth it for the street food.

Korea has taught me to really appreciate a good stick of squid on the grill.

A good thing gets around.

One of the many squid grillers, a silver jewelry booth with the goods soaking in lime water and a nice overall shot of the the atmosphere of the place.

I almost couldn't have asked for a more fulfilling nine days in the Philippines. So many beautiful sites and unexpectedly good experiences. Thank you Philippines and thank you Filipino people for your helpfulness, great food, and for my walking stick when I really needed it.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip.

Bukhansan and Nami Island

Bukhansan Mountain

In an attempt to soak up as much of what is unique to Korea, and what is new to me I have spent the last two weekends outside with friends taking in the last days of fall.

Last weekend three of my coworkers and I went to the most popular and the tallest mountain in the Seoul area, Bukhansan Mountain in northern Seoul.

At the start of our hike (which ended up being about 4 hours there and back) the colors of the leaves were exceptionally bright and varied. Even my camera can't really do the scene justice, and the extra fog that day tinted everything just a bit. Once again nature has impressed me with its way of outdoing itself.

I am lucky to work with a lot of people from all over America and Canada that seems to want to explore as much as I do. Between the different people in our group of about 16 teachers, someone is always discovering something new and interesting to do on the weekends.

At the top and looking over the ridge line. I am standing (perhaps inappropriately) on the top of the fortress wall that runs along this part of the mountain. For several years part of this park had been closed off to everyone. The closing was a result of discovering that it was being used for North Korean spies to sneak into South Korea. Part of the popularity of this mountain is the ability to hike these recently opened and relatively untouched areas that were closed off for more than a decade.

There isn't a much more picturesque scene of Korea in fall than this bridge and the colors around it. I still have a lot to understand about Korea, but something about this picture helps me to feel I know it a bit better.

Welcome to Nami Island...


This interesting little half moon shaped island was created as the result of the building of a local damn in the 1940's. Its roughly 4km in diameter and sits in the middle of the Northern Han river. Unlike Bukhansan mountain this island is completely man made and designed with a feeling in mind. One unique fact, there are no telephone poles on the island as all the cables have been run underground to maintain a natural feeling on Nami.

These kids were doing there best "heart- shape" poses.

Nami island is also known for its romance appeal and has such alluring sites as "First Kiss Bridge" the "Love Hut".... which turned out to be a log pathway along the water. Korea will always make room for its couples.

Here I am at "First Kiss" Bridge.....

I can't remember what kind of trees these were, but looking back on it they seemed like the trees that might lead into Narnia. And this place does have a bit of a surreal feel to it.

Nami Island is also the site for the filming on a famous Korean "soap opera" series as well as some movies.

Korea is a small country will millions of people and like many places I've been to in Asia, its also hard to find a spot where there is no one else around. I like this picture because for a moment this little corner of Nami looks isolated.

Nami Island, you just may have convinced me to come back in the spring.