It’s kind of astounding how many local foods and products in the Seattle area can be traced to Whidbey Island.ABOUT HALF OF THE RESIDENTS of the largest island in Washington are involved in small-scale agriculture, from raising alpacas to breeding tasty new types of flowers. The Whidbey Island Farm Tour may only happen annually, but many farms on the island welcome visitors year-round.

I was in Seoul in October, and savored the opportunity to sample new dishes of a cuisine I have come to love over the years for its flavors and spices. I was not disappointed, especially because Korean food in Korea is so inexpensive. I would have loved to stay longer, just to eat more. Here are photos of some of my favorite meals.

Take a cue from this vid and look sharp while hot air ballooning.IF YOU HAD ANY DOUBTS, you know this is a travel vid when you see the French-tipped fingernail trace the pages of a Lonely Planet. With that simple gesture we are assured that we are indeed going to witness 4 minutes of bonafide travel goodness.

Long-term travel is often a tricky financial proposition.UNLESS YOU’VE BEEN gifted an inheritance or a lucky lotto ticket, chances are that someone wanting to join the expat community in a foreign country will have to find work there. Teaching English as a Second Language classes is, by far, the job of choice.

Photo by crashmattbEva Holland gives you the night tour in Nashville.Let’s be clear: This is not a guerrilla guide to Nashville’s secret underground indie-rock haunts or its little-known hipster underbelly.No. This is a guide to the Nashville you’ve always known existed, but probably never thought was worth visiting.

As part of the KEEN HybridLife Photo Contest, Matador asked for pictures which best expressed a “HybridLife,” which is how KEEN describes people balancing what’s important to them — playing in the outdoors, and taking part in a community. Here are the most inspiring shots so far in the contest.1During a sunset in the dunes between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the mind traverses the landscape of the soul.