Asia

Panmunjom, North Korea/South Korea border

From one of the oddest places in the world, taken in front of the buildings that straddle the heavily-armed border between North and South Korea. The actual physical border between the two countries goes right through the center of the tiny blue shacks behind me. This picture is taken from the South Korean side of the border as South Korean soldiers take up tae kwon do protective stances as they face their North Korean counterparts across the divide.

In the two shots below, I am standing in the half of the room that falls within the territory of the Democratic People's Republic of (North) Korea. In the left picture, a North Korean soldier looks at me through the window from outside; you can see we are in the same Korea by virtue of the fact that he is in the same area of the window as I am (unlike me, he cannot cross to the southern part of the building). In the picture on the right, I am standing next to a South Korean soldier who is positioned in front of the door leading to North Korea behind him.

Two shots of me entering the same building from opposite countries. The first is me going inside from South Korea. The following picture is me going inside the exact same building from North Korea several years later. A very strange experience to say the least, knowing that I am one of only very few people on earth who have accomplished this feat.

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North Korea
For reasons known only to them, North Korean immigration officials refuse to stamp the passports of Americans. So I was left to try other methods -- like the photograph below of my North Korean visas -- to show I had entered the country with permission.

Disembarking our Air Koryo Ilyushin aircraft in Pyongyang. The Ilyushin features 2 engines on each side of the tail, the only commercial aircraft of its kind in the world.

In front of the grand statue of the Great Leader himself, the President for Eternity, Kim Il Sung.

At Kim Il Sung's Mausoleum, one of the most important pilgrimmage sites in all of North Korea.

On a break after touring the International Friendship Exhibit at Mt Myohyang, a little light reading provided by (who else?) the Great Leader himself.

My attempt at a little underhanded humor. I brought this shirt with me specifically to North Korea to try to get a photograph of me wearing it in front of the Juche Tower. It's from the Dennis Miller show, and his nonsensical signature line "What's up Hiroshi? Let's light this candle!" seems even more ridiculous pictured in front of a monument with a giant flame on top.

At the summit of sacred Mt Paektu, the highest mountain in Korea.

Doing my best to try to make sure that if North Korea ever attacks the US one day, they avoid targeting Hawaii! :)

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Cambodia
Palace architecture style.

Leaning against a United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) vehicle in Phnom Penh.

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Thailand
Bangkok, Oriental City.

Relaxing on a cruise of the limestone islands of breathtaking Phang Nga Bay.

Me in front of the giant sitting Buddha at Wat Si Chum in Sukhothai, just to add scale.

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Burma (Myanmar)
Exploring my interest in Buddhism by visiting a monastery in Yangon (Rangoon), capital city of Myanmar.

Serving rice to monks in Mandalay.

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Hong Kong
On one of my first solo trips to Asia in 1988. I've been in love with the continent ever since!

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Laos
In a park filled with Buddhist stone carvings.

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Vietnam
In front of a giant mural commemorating the 29th anniversary of the communist government in Vietnam.

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China
At the edge of Tienanmen Square in central Beijing.

Making new friends in the terra cotta warrior museum in Xian.

Posing with the world's largest sitting Buddha in Leshan.

Shanghai's spectacular skyline.

In front of the amazing Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

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Taiwan
Enjoying a Coke after a motorcycle ride through the gorges near Hualien.

Carefully examining the ingredients of my mystery broth after seeing the lady next to me extract a heinous-looking chicken foot from hers...

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Mongolia
Stumbling across some "wild" camels while walking the plains of central Mongolia.

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Philippines
Hunting down the Marcos legacy in the Philippines, first at his mausoleum, next at the Malacanang Palace of the North.

At the 8th Wonder of the World, the breathtaking rice terraces of Banaue.

Enjoying the spectaclar scenery near Mt Mayon, the most active volcano in the Philippines.