It’s 1440 and you are King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty. You are a well-respected ruler and a champion for the common person. But you have a little problem. Your population is undereducated and you want to communicate with them. “My people cannot write characters even though they have hands, and can’t read characters […]
Why Korean is the World's Most Interesting Language Read More »
Armenian Khachkars These photos were taken at the khachkar field in Noratus, Armenia. It is the largest such concentration of these carved memorial stones, known as khachkars, anywhere in the country. A few years back I was lucky enough to visit an Armenian-Russian friend of mine’s extended family living in Armenia. The Armenians are some
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Big skies, wide open spaces, imposing mountains; this is Colorado. These photos were taken in or around Great Sand Dunes National Park—the most underrated National Park in the United States. I’ll never forget the image of the glowing orange sun in my rear view mirror as I drove down from Poncha Pass into the valley
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By Stephen Bugno Mokpo is a city in the far southwest of the Korean peninsula that most people told me to avoid. They looked puzzled when I told them I was stopping there. There’s nothing to see in Mokpo. It’s only a place to transit. Not worth staying there for any amount of time. That
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This is the throne hall of Changdeok Palace. The immense room, known as Injeong-jeon or Hall of the Benevolent Government, was used for holding formal functions of the state. It stands out among the other elegant architecture of Changdeok Palace. The palace, located in a hilly section north of dowtown Seoul, was a favorite residence of Korean royalty.
Photo of the Week: Changdeok Palace, Seoul Read More »
Georgian culture is completely inseparable from its Orthodox Christianity. The land and people have been Christian since the 4th century. People walking past a Georgian church stop, face the church and cross themselves before continuing on their way. The interior of the churches are dim with painted icons of saints and the holy family on
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This series of photos come from the Fergana Valley of Uzbekistan, a famous producer of fine silk. I had the opportunity to travel to the city of Margilan to visit a silk factory when I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan. At the Yodgorlik silk factory, you can witness the different stages of
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Couchsurfing Tips For Women By Sally Kay The Couchsurfing Project is a great tool for the curious and thrifty traveler. The project idea is a cultural exchange in which members are the type of people who want share their culture and to learn about others. Couchsurfers want to get to know more than just the
10 Things She Should Know Before Couchsurfing: Tips for Women Read More »
Photos from Petra Jordan Brought to popular culture in the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade film, Petra Jordan is one of the highlights of any trip to the Middle East. The entrance of Petra follows the bottom of a narrow rock gorge called The Siq, eventually leading to the dramatic first view of The
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By Stephen Bugno Circle the coastline of Korea’s Jeju island long enough and eventually you are likely to come across women decked out in diving gear popping up to the surface now and again. These are the haenyeo—the world-famous women divers of Jeju, keeping alive a centuries-old tradition while maintaining the economic viability of their
The Women Divers of Jeju Read More »
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