Antigua

Guatemala's ubiquitous chicken buses, which are refurbished old American school buses, chug to every corner of the country in style.

Volcan Pacaya

The sun sets over three volcanoes: Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango.

Volcan Pacaya

As a cloud descends in the late afternoon, a guide allows his horse a snack break on the slopes of Pacaya Volcano.

Volcan Pacaya

Lava flows from Pacaya, one of Central America's most active volcanoes. Descending into the area and checking out the lava from just a few feet away was an amazing experience, but the bottoms of my shoes partially melted in the process.

Antigua

Me at the entrance of La Posada del Angel. Bill Clinton stayed at this colonial-style guesthouse during his visit to Guatemala, and a night here was a major luxury after weeks of $3 per night guesthouses. Photo by Michelle Marlin

Antigua

Antigua's cemetery, constructed in the 1500s, is still in use.

Monterrico

Monterrico's black sand beaches are considered the finest in Guatemala. Unfortunately, due to exceptionally strong currents, swimming isn't possible here.

Monterrico

Boats line the waterway that skirts the town of Monterrico.

Copan Ruinas

The Grand Plaza of Copan Ruinas.

Copan Ruinas

Tuk tuks, imported from Thailand, await passengers in central Copan Ruinas, Honduras.

Todos Santos Cuchumatan

Ears of corn dry outside a home in Todos Santos.

Todos Santos Cuchumatan

Todos Santeros in traditional traje overlook the town square.

Huehuetenango

Precipitous cliffs line the road that leads from Huehuetenango into the Cuchumatanes mountain range.

San Juan La Laguna

Village boys show off their toy trucks in the village of San Juan La Laguna.

San Pedro la Laguna

A panorama of San Pedro unfolds from the road that winds around the lake.

Solola

A couple whiles away a lazy Sunday on the steps of Solola's cathedral.

Santa Maria Concepcion

Santa Maria Concepcion, a typical farming village of 2,000 in Solola Province.

San Isidro

A cloud descends on a forested hill near San Isidro.

San Isidro

The countryside surrounding San Isidro is an important agricultural region.

Antigua

Antigua's eponymous arch originally served as a passageway for resident nuns to protect them from the outside world.

Lago de Atitlan

Kayakers race toward shore as a storm closes in on Lago de Atitlan.

Panajachel

A weaver in Panajachel.

Lago de Atitlan

Colectivo boats transport passengers to the villages dotting the shores of the lake.

Quetzaltenango

Indigenous women come from the area's villages to sell their produce in Xela's downtown market.

Antigua

Antigua's cathedral, completed in 1680, glows as the sun sets. The current structure, which has been repeatedly damaged by earthquakes, replaced an earlier cathedral begun in 1542.

Guatemala & Honduras

Busan

This intrepid octopus escaped from his bucket at Jalgachi Fish Market and almost caused a motorbike accident. He was subsequently scooped up by a passerby and unceremoniously returned to his rightful owner. In hindsight, I should have rewarded him for his tenacity by purchasing him and depositing him in the adjacent bay.

Busan

Jalgachi Fish Market, the country's largest, is famous for its variety and freshness. Hungry shoppers can also have their selection cooked to order in one of the tiny single-chair kiosks located behind the displays of seafood.

Seoul

South Korea's largest Buddha, located at Bongeunsa Temple, attracts the faithful despite frigid temperatures.

Seoraksan National Park

Mt. Seorak towers over Sinheungsa Temple, situated in Seoraksan National Park, an area that is considered to be South Korea's most attractive region. The temple complex was originally completed in 658 AD, but has since been rebuilt multiple times.

Wonju

On a nature walk with eight-year-old Diana on the grounds of Oak Valley Resort in Kangwon-do, where I was Assistant Director of a winter ski camp.

Photo by Hannah, age 8

Demilitarized Zone

View of North Korea from the Joint Security Area (JSA). The flagpole in the background, the world's tallest, towers over what is dubbed by the South as The Propaganda Village, an unoccupied model city complete with automatic lights at night to give the appearance of residency. In the foreground lies the Bridge of No Return. Until late 2001 propaganda extolling the virutues of life in North Korea spewed from speakers facing south 24 hours per day and lettering reminiscent of the Hollywood sign peppered the mountainsides reiterating the virtues of the North. Since the removal of the barrage of propaganda, the atmosphere of the DMZ is decidedly calmer, a potentially misleading feeling at what remains the world's most militarized border.

Demilitarized Zone

A United Nations/ROK soldier observes a North Korean bunker in the DMZ. Though all South Korean men are required to serve two years in the military, only tall, muscular soldiers are selected for service in the Joint Security Area.

Suwon

Neon is thoroughly loved in Korea. Even rural villages are not immune to its charms.

Seoul

Surrounded by skyscrapers, Namdaemun Gate, built during the Joseon Dynasty and completed in 1398, is now in the center of a traffic circle.

Seoul

Plastic food displays are an immense help when it comes to selecting a meal at sprawling, 24-hour Namdaemun Market.

Seoul

A typical side street in a Seoul shopping district.

Suwon

Getting straight to the point on Suwon's main shopping and dining street.

Busan

Know by Koreans primarily as havens for illicit affairs, ubiquitous yogwan, at around US$40 per night (less by the hour), are havens for foreign budget travelers. Communal toothpaste, porn collections displayed in corridors, and mirrored ceilings are standard features.

Busan

I lived in Bugok Samsung Apata in Busan (then known as Pusan) from 2000-2001. Surprised I could remember which apartment was mine? Yeah, me, too.

Seoul

A side alley glows at night in the art district of Insadong.

Seoul

Street food in Chong-no 3-ga, including tteokboki, attracts winter shoppers eager for a hot snack.

Seoul

Korean takeout delivered by motorbike is fantasticly convenient: your meal arrives at your door within minutes, in real dishes, which you place outside your door when you finish eating. These empty containers await orders outside an Itaewon 2-dong resturant.

Seoul

A menu in Itaewon. "Blind Gut", anyone?

Iksan

Korean meals always incorporate pan chan, small, varied side dishes; part of the fun is that you never know what you're going to get. This restaurant, famous for its rice, provided more than 20 types of pan chan to accompany our meal.

Seoul

Creative restaurant menu English at Coex Mall

Seoul

Funerary stupas, Bongeunsa Temple

Seoul

Lotus lanterns, Bongeunsa Temple

Seoul

Baby buddha drinking fountain, Bongeunsa Temple

Seoul

The first snowfall of the year at Bongeunsa Temple, Seoul

Seoul

Wishful thinking in a country where the average man is 5'4."