About Joseph
I work as a Chief Mate on the oceanographic research ships of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography at UC San Diego. The voyages and expeditions I worked have brought me from the Yangtze River of China, to the icebergs off Antarctica, and many other points around the world. We generally do physical oceanography in the Pacific Ocean and connected waters.
My passion is world travel and I have spent the last 13 years working and independently traveling through over 80 countries. I have no home and live out of a backpack (although a girl in Taiwan has me settling down for the first time in my life). I also love to read literature, study history, and make trouble where and when I can.
Traveling to North Korea has been a life changing experience but it’s far from being my only one. I have hiked at Mt. Everest, worked as a white water rafting guide, hung out with rebels and liberation armies in various war zones, been killed off in a Chinese kong fu film, studied Vietnamese at a university in Hanoi, and most recently passed my exams for the US Coast Guard’s highest license, Master Unlimited.
2010 science trip to Easter Island on the R/V Melville
My travels – work and play
visited 87 states (38.6%)
Create your own visited map of The World or website vertaling duits?
Pictures of me in North Korea:
With the singing waitresses of Pyongyang, North Korea.
Cute times with the singing waitresses and myself at the Youth Day Celebration , Pyongyang, DPRK, North Korea.
With the singing waitresses of Pyongyang, North Korea.
Dancing with the singing waitresses of Pyongyang, North Korea.
Group photo at the Reunification Statue, Pyongyang.
Group photo with colorful Korean natives outside the Kim Il Sung Mausoleum.
Our crew outside the Kim Il Sung statue in Kaesong.
Taking on the North Korean strong man – arm wrestling at the Pyongyang fun fair.
The group at the DMZ.
After one too many at the Pyongyang BBQ duck restaurant.
I was trip leader! Here I am showing off our North Korea group visa.
Just a little drunk after a night of North Korean karaoke.
She hates American soldiers but “love(s) American civilians!” – with the guide at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum.
I’m a sailor, I dig anchors! Three Revolutionary Ideas Exhibition, Pyongyang, North Korea.
Hanging with Kim Jong-il.
View of Pyongyang from the Grand People’s Study House.
With the guide at the International Friendship Exhibition.
Below the Kims at the DMZ.
Tour of the US spy ship Pueblo
Tour of the US spy ship Pueblo
I’m glad to have found your blog and I’m looking forward to your photos and thoughts on visiting there!
November 14, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Thanks!
November 15, 2011 at 1:29 am
Yes, your life sounds very adventurous and interesting. I am looking forward to your pictures and thoughts aswell.
November 19, 2011 at 12:09 pm
Thank you, I’m just glad people are interested
November 19, 2011 at 6:55 pm
This is exceptional. I will be definitely following you from now on. You have a different perspective about North Korea and I’m glad that you freely share it to the world. Thanks for sharing and keep ‘em coming.
November 22, 2011 at 5:48 am
Salamat, and thanks for stopping by. I definitely plan to continue to keep posting something new and fresh each day.
November 22, 2011 at 6:08 am
Wow! And you know a bit of Tagalog. “Walang anuman” – you’re welcome
November 22, 2011 at 11:07 am
Walay sapayan – actually I lived in Cebu for a summer and took some classes in Visayan and studied some martial arts.
I checked out your blog too, nice work, I will be following it – happy travels!
November 22, 2011 at 11:50 am
good job …..
November 27, 2011 at 4:27 am
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Sounds like you have had a lot of interesting wanderings..
December 7, 2011 at 4:13 am
Hello there,
thanks for your blog.Very very interesting
I just saw your North Korea photos on flickr and they are simply awesome!i love the portrait photos,especially the children ones.It seems like you had a more inside view than other tourists.
Merry christams and good travelling(i love travelling,too!!!seriously addicted
) for the future
best wishes from germany
tobi
December 20, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Thank you very much!
December 20, 2011 at 5:56 pm
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great blog Joe
January 5, 2012 at 3:48 am
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Great set of pictures.
January 13, 2012 at 3:05 pm
loved all the photos! Especially of you and the gals! : )
January 28, 2012 at 9:25 am
Thanks – I read your bio, you have had an interesting life’s journey, so cool you are so well grounded and your love for the world trumps all the superficial distractions out there! Best of luck in everything.
January 29, 2012 at 5:55 pm
I envy you! I’ve never been in North Korea even though I’m from other side of Korea! Thank you for sharing all pictures and traveling stories as well. I should spend some more time here!
March 2, 2012 at 8:51 am
Thank you, this blog has slowed down a bit now that my first trip was last summer, but I go back in April of this year so there should be plenty of new and fantastic pics coming – I upgraded to a pro camera for my new trip!
March 2, 2012 at 9:36 am
Hi Joseph, I found your blog through a few key words on Google and so far this is the best blog about North Korea I’ve ever encountered. I’m not having any biological or physical attach to the country, just the emotion! Pleas keep your blog rolling.
April 10, 2012 at 7:33 am