Ever since I found myself belly-worming through an increasingly dark and unexpectedly narrow crevice in a cave in Vang Vieng, Laos, a few years back, I’ve been sketchy about spelunking.  Something about the cold, damp walls pressing in on both shoulders and the inability of the local boys guiding us to clarify how far the exit was gripped me with my first-ever claustrophobic pang.  Probably the worst thing you can think of during a moment like that is the possibility of an earthquake, but that of course is what crossed my mind.

I was naked, yet I felt no shame. After emerging from a HOT hot tub, I cooled off by jumping into a tub of cold water - it's great for the circulation. Quick! Jump back into the hot tub to really get your blood moving. Put some clothes on, then head into a dry sauna guaranteed to make you sweat. Welcome to the jimjilbang - a bathing experience unlike any other.

In the Rough Guide to Korea, my guru Norbert calls Yakcheonsa one of Jeju’s most magical experiences.  The best time to arrive, he writes, is 7 pm on a summer evening, when “worshipping locals chant under the interior glow with their backs to the sunset.”  So I hiked a staircase at the end of Jungmun Beach, grabbed a cab from the Hyatt hotel, and missioned to the temple, which was built in the 1990′s and, according to Norbert, is considered one of the most impressive in the country, despite its less-than-historical 20th-century roots.

Did you hear the wind last night?  It was crazy wasn't it?  All the time I've spent in Korea, this was by far the worst I remember.  Inevitably, there were lots of damages done across the country.  Below, I've scrapped some of the damages caught on camera.  Hopefully none of you out there reading this blog suffered any damage.

Getting into the spirit of the upcoming G-20 summit, Korean government is making changes to improve the lives of foreign residents in Korea.     Last month, the office of Prime Minister (a position appointed by the president in Korea) announced regulation changes for foreigners in Korea.  These new rule changes affect many foreigners residing in Korea and I've summarized some of the major changes that are likely to affect you below.

Sorry all about the lack of posting lately -- I have returned from Korea to the United States in an effort to set up shop stateside in San Francisco; do a little writing, take a little funemployed vacation. You could say I am "freelancing" for now. There will be a few new posts on what life is like back in the States after a year long trip in Korea -- after I come back from a week-long desert art festival called Burning Man, so stay tuned for some crazy new stories. For now, what are the top five most difficult things about the transition?

I love living in Korea, but, when vacation comes around, I prefer to get as far away (culturally and geographically) as the wind and my wallet will carry me.  For a break from Seoul life, Nepal is a slam dunk.  Everything is drastically different- culture, people, food, scenery, religion, souvenirs, you name it- in a wonderful way but one that also makes you grateful when you get back to comforting old K-land.  It’s the perfect balance of serenity and madness, space and crowds, spice and smells.  Nepal is intoxicating, exotic, unique and dirt cheap… and only a $600 flight away.  So, what are you waiting for? 

  One really needs a personal assistant to coordinate their weekends when it comes to partying on the peninsula. The scene, like the country itself, has risen from obscurity to become one of the most pulsating and tantalizing destinations in the world. Electronic dance music (EDM) is played everywhere, but there are only a few clubs and promoters that spend their cover charges and sponsorship to finance international talent.

After the falls, the beach.