Tal tales
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Ancient folk traditions such as talchum — a mask dance drama — belie South Korea’s reputation for tech-obsessed modernity
Ronan O'Connell
Ronan is an Australian journalist and photographer with 15 years' experience as a reporter. After nine years working for daily newspapers he went freelance and has since contributed to more than 50 media outlets across the world including CNN, BBC, The Guardian, San Francisco Chronicle, Toronto Star, The South China Morning Post, and Australian Financial Review. He is based in Ireland, Thailand, and Australia.
Fabulous Fortresses
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Visitors can find compelling insight into Vietnam’s colorful history at majestic ruined citadels throughout the nation
Jagalchi: Busan’s fresh catch obsession
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Up to half of South Korea’s seafood moves through Jagalchi Fish Market, a sprawling open-air bazaar in Busan.
Hwaseong: The Incredible Story Behind a Korean Fortress
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Well off the country’s tourist trail, Hwaseong Fortress hides an extraordinary tale of intrigue and imperial ambition.
Laos Silk Weaving Up Close
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Lao people have been weaving these colorful threads for more than 1,000 years with silk made from mulberry leaf-fed silk worms.
The Great Kimchi Debate: The Story of South Korea’s Favorite Dish
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Kimchi has inspired songs, paintings, and poems, but where does Korea’s national dish come from?
Remembrance at Hiroshima’s Nuclear Temple
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Hiroshima’s 1,200-year-old Mitaki-dera temple is tranquil but it’s also, a pilgrimage site for the victims of the nuclear age.
Kumaris: The Living Child Goddesses of Nepal
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For more than 1,000 years, Kumaris have been a central part of Hindu and Buddhist culture in Nepal, particularly in Kathmandu.
How India’s Last Emperor Came to Rest in a Small Yangon Basement
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Zafar II – successor to Akbar II and the last Mughal Emperor – was laid to rest far from India, making his final resting place in a small basement at the shrine in Bahadur Shah Zafar Dargah.
Inside Kolkata’s Fading Chinatown
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It all began with Tong Atchew, a tea trader from southern China who arrived in Kolkata in 1778. Today, that legacy clings on in one of India’s most dynamic cities.
Keris: Smithing a Sacred Dagger in Bali
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Travel writer Ronan O’Connell crafts a ceremonial dagger, or keris, with a 9th generation blacksmith on Indonesia’s most fascinating island.
Beomeosa: Busan’s Temple of Fighting Monks
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Nestled amid dense forest, Beomeosa famed for its fighting monks and the unique martial arts skills that helped repel Japanese invasions.