When Gecko’s opened late last year, it was a revelation. It was like being lost in the desert and God pouring manna down from heaven. It was one of the first (another being LaVie) restaurant on the island to offer a menu of genuine Western food in a great, home-style atmosphere. For years, other establishments on Jeju had offered what they claimed was Western or Italian food, but never seemed to get it right. When friends told me about a new place on the island with actual American and …

Jimjilbangs and Saunas on Jeju Island, South Korea
Story by Sara Stillman | Photo – Flickr
After a long winter was almost over, advice from a friend and a visit to a Japanese onsen finally prompted me to check out the world of saunas and jimjilbangs on Jeju. I had been missing my bathtub in Canada and my muscles were sore, but I was feeling a bit shy about getting naked in front of a lot of local strangers. The morning after my first trip to the Deabo Sauna in Sin-Jeju, however, …

Many visitors and residents of Jeju become enthralled by the natural beauty of this place and so try to capture the island’s essence through the medium of still photography. But most fail to do so, as they are limited by lack of skill and also patience to wait for the “golden light.” However, some succeed in capturing stunning displays of nature where you can almost hear the wind blowing through the tall pampas grass. Such a photographer would be Kim Young Gap.
The history of Kim Young Gap
Kim Young Gap …

Fun Cafe Board Game Room
Story by Joseph L’Esperance | Photo: Jim Saunders
When I was told about the “board game bang,” you may be able to sympathize with what I imagined. A small, simple entrance, which revealed the small, dimly lit hallway leading to a similarly lit room. Only, instead of six television sets and two microphones on the wall, I imagined shelves and shelves of board games!
So, when I got off the elevator at the 5th floor above Mr Pizza in City Hall, I was met with the English words …